Albanese announces aid as locals demand urgent housing after devastating flood damage
Nearly 800 homes have been declared uninhabitable following catastrophic flooding across New South Wales’s Mid North Coast and Hunter regions, triggering a desperate push for emergency accommodation and government aid.
Thousands of residents now face the grim reality of being displaced as damage assessments continue in what authorities have described as a record-breaking weather disaster. With more than 5,300 properties inspected so far, NSW State Emergency Service (SES) teams have reported a relentless workload, focusing efforts on resupplying isolated communities and clearing flood-damaged properties.
SES spokesperson Matt Heap said teams were working non-stop. “Our efforts today will continue to focus on resupplying the thousands of isolated residents, completing washouts, and conducting damage assessments,” he said.
More than 3,500 personnel from various NSW government agencies, including 2,220 SES volunteers, are deployed across the affected areas. However, with winds of up to 90km/h forecast in some parts, there are fears that worsening weather could ground supply flights and hamper relief operations.
In the MidCoast region alone, over 2,000 flood-damaged buildings have been inspected. Mayor Claire Pontin revealed that about a quarter were currently uninhabitable and that the true figure was likely far higher. “They’re going through all the businesses and all the houses, and the number was up to 527,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that it can’t be repaired, it means that they can’t be lived in for now.”
Pontin estimated that more than 5,000 homes may have sustained flood damage across her local government area. “It is staggering the number of people, businesses, and houses that have been affected by this, and I’m struggling to get my head around it,” she admitted.
The mayor confirmed she had spoken to NSW Recovery Minister Janelle Saffin about temporary accommodation solutions, including the deployment of caravans and emergency pods. These could be installed in driveways, allowing residents to remain close to their homes and still access power and water services.
The proposed pod villages echo similar emergency measures adopted after the 2022 Northern Rivers flood disaster, when modular homes were quickly established for displaced residents.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the region on Monday and announced emergency financial relief. Residents in nine heavily impacted areas—such as Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie and Nambucca Heads—will receive a one-off $1,000 payment if they’ve lost a loved one or experienced significant property damage. Additionally, those who’ve lost work across 19 flood-affected zones will be eligible for up to 13 weeks of income support.
“I’ve said there’s more support that is going to be needed,” Mr Albanese said during his visit to Taree. “What we are doing though is making sure people have that immediate support. This will take some time—the recovery.”
However, some local leaders said the federal response fell short. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders called the funding “a little underwhelming” and urged the government to declare the crisis a Category C or D natural disaster.
“That will unlock some grants, some grant payments for small business and also primary producers,” Saunders argued. “Without that small help, people will struggle to see where the next possibility is for their business, and that’s a really bad place to be in.”
Meanwhile, Essential Energy has reported extensive damage to its power infrastructure, with floodwaters causing erosion and debris that continue to threaten the region’s electricity network.
As the floodwaters recede, the massive task of rebuilding lives and infrastructure begins—one that may stretch on for months or even years.
