Council project selected for the Resilient Australia Awards

Tweed Shire Council’s Industry Central Land Swap Project is in the running for a national award for outstanding projects which build community resilience to disasters and emergencies.

The Resilient Australia Awards is a national program that recognises initiatives that strengthen community disaster resilience.

The project has just won the NSW section of the awards in the Local Government category and now moves on for consideration in the national awards in a few months’ time.

The initiative allowed eligible land owners who were directly impacted by the 2017 flood in South Murwillumbah to enter an expression of interest process and, if successful, swap their flood-prone land with Council-owned flood free land at Industry Central, Murwillumbah.

Council purchased the 14.02 hectares of land thanks to funding from the NSW Government.

The strategy was developed following 2017 ex-tropical cyclone Debbie, which highlighted the profound impact losses to local businesses would have on the wider community.

The judges said: “This is an important mitigation strategy to remove current risk from the floodplain and build community resilience. This activity required extensive consultation, forward planning and significant effort by the Council”.

The award was accepted by Council General Manager Troy Green - who oversees the project - and Acting Manager Land & Economic Development, Ray Musgrave.

“It’s terrific to see this project recognised, which mitigates against climate change and creates resilience for local businesses and the broader economy,” Mr Green said.

“I’d like to thank the former Member for Lismore, Thomas George, for his advocacy following the flood, the Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest, for his assistance with the project and the current Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, for her ongoing support as the initiative progresses.

“An Expression of Interest for the project closed earlier this year and we expect to have a report to the November Council Meeting recommending businesses which were selected as applicants for the land swap,” he said.

For more information about the Industry Central Land Swap Project visit www.yoursaytweed.com.au/landswap
The Resilient Australia Awards is sponsored by the Australian Government in partnership with the states and territories and managed by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR). The NSW awards are coordinated by the Office of Emergency Management.