Macleay community comes out the other side after disasters

The Recovery Hub, located on Elbow St in West Kempsey, was always intended as a short-term operation to bring all of the relevant agencies and council staff together under one roof to offer a one-stop-shop for community members recovering from the bushfires and then the floods.

Which means, as odd as it might sound, it is a great sign that people aren't coming to use the service anymore.

In its 12 months of operation, hundreds of locals have walked through the doors looking for a helping hand, a sympathetic ear or a leg up. As a community we should feel very proud that this unassuming house, the first of its kind, contained so much support.

We should also be proud of ourselves. Our community is extraordinary in our resilience and our attitude. Despite the stunning number of disasters we have faced in recent times the overwhelming attitude of those who have come to the Recovery Hub has been to ask for a bit of help to get back on their feet.

Now we're standing proud and looking forward.

And so the focus shifts. Help is still available for those who need it from the agencies who do it best. Council will still provide its recovery website at ksc.pub/recovery and can consult on which services to approach through the Customer Service team on 6566-3200.

Council has also secured additional funds from the State Government to support communities over the coming year to be prepared, to reduce disaster risks and to ensure recovery processes are simplified for any future disasters.

In the coming months council will launch a community outreach van that will deliver a mobile service to assist with community planning, education and support.

Resilience and recovery programs are part of council's ongoing business, because they are part of our way of life here in the Macleay.

I'm always proud of the spirit we show here in the Macleay and our amazing people, and for the first time I'm proud that we're closing something.

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