By -

The community legal centre affected by NSW's recent floods has been given a cash injection from the State Government.

NSW Attorney General Mark Speakman announced this week that the Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre (NRCLC) will receive a $680,000 influx of funding to assist flood victims. “This funding has been allocated by the NSW Government from the Commonwealth’s $5.45 million package for existing legal services providing advice to flood affected communities in NSW and Queensland,” said Speakman.

NSW has been allocated $3.29 million of the Commonwealth’s $5.45 million package in funding for existing legal services. “Many people will require legal help to navigate insurance and property matters after NSW’s recent catastrophic weather events,” said Speakman.

“The Northern Rivers requires support for domestic violence, generalist legal, tenancy and social work services,” he said.

Steph Cooke, NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery, welcomed the increased funding. “The $680,000 will enable several additional full-time staff to relieve NRCLC staff who have been working tirelessly in spite of experiencing flooding which impacted their own homes,” she said.

The funding will also be used to purchase a van so that NRCLC staff can travel to areas where legal services are needed most.

Tim Leach, Executive Director of Community Legal Centres NSW, said part of the funding will be used to repair the NRCLC office which suffered extensive damage from the Lismore floods. “The NRCLC covers a large area, stretching all the way up to Tweed Heads,” he said.

“It’s important that the NRCLC is accessible to the entire community.”