A COMMUNITY still reeling from the devastation of floods which ripped through their village earlier this year has left some residents at Telegraph Point feeling a little deflated by a Federal ministerial visit today (November 8).
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The launch of the Federal government's Preparing Australia Program received mixed reactions from the Telegraph Point community.
While they all agree the funding to be flood-prepared for the future was essential, others said urgent assistance is needed now to help the community get back on its feet.
The March floods were the worst the region has seen in more than 60 years with the local school, pub, service station and dozens of homes inundated by water.
The Telegraph Point community rallied, with the local community hall becoming the epicentre of the village's flood relief effort in the weeks that followed - all manned by volunteer power.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie and Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan visited the village on November 8 to launch the $150 million Preparing Australian Communities Program - Local.
The announcement is for the first stream of the $600 million program.
Minister McKenzie said the initial $150 million will support projects to help communities be better prepared for future disasters and lessen their long-term impacts.
"Grants from $20,000 to $10 million will be available for eligible projects that help to assess and plan for disaster risk, increase capacity and raise awareness of disaster risk, or deliver resilient infrastructure," she said.
Telegraph Point Community Association president Sue Pike was one of the many faces behind the massive effort to support the community in the aftermath of the floods.
"We really need to be prepared for future emergencies because I know there are going to be more," she said.
The association will apply for a grant through the Preparing Australian Communities Program - Local to help upgrade the Telegraph Point Community Hall.
"We need an accessible amenities block because we only have two toilets here and no showers," she said.
"People who have disabilities and elderly people with mobility issues can't access the current facilities."
However, Telegraph Point resident Debbie Heaney said funding should be spent to help communities in need now.
"Unfortunately this funding is to implement things to help us out when we flood again," she said.
Ms Heaney said drainage is one issue which needs to be addressed by the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
Mr Conaghan said he will coordinate a meeting with Mrs Heaney and the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to address the issue.
Another resident Amy Brookes lost everything in the March floods after spending five years building her home with her husband.
The family are still cleaning up from the floods eight months on.
"We have 100 acres and a business which will probably never be the same," she said.
Mrs Brookes has spent many hours on the phone to government services in an attempt to receive grant funding.
"It felt like you were on a hamster wheel going round and round in circles," she said.
Mrs Brookes believes grants should be fast-tracked to those who need them the most.
Applications for the Preparing Australian Communities Program - Local will open on December 10 and successful projects will commence by mid-2022.
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