Two years have passed since the devastating floods swept through NSW Central West.

This left a trail of destruction among the residents.

The communities affected have been grappling with the aftermath, but a new ray of hope has emerged.


A $40-million Resilient Homes Program has been announced for the benefit of the survivors of the flood victims in Eugowra and surrounding areas.

The program, funded jointly by the state and federal governments, was a testament to the ongoing commitment to rebuilding the region against future calamities.

Homeowners from Cabonne, Forbes, Parkes, Lachlan, and Cobar local government areas—which were hit hard by the November 2022 floods—could apply for this assistance.


The NSW Reconstruction Authority also conducted extensive flood mapping to determine the eligibility for each type of assistance.

NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon emphasised the importance of offering this assistance.

'Where the flood mapping, where the experts, where local knowledge and where previous flood studies have indicated people are at the highest risk, we want to offer the best opportunity for those people,' Mr Lanyon stated.


The program has three key streams of support:

Buybacks: This option is available for approximately 20 homes in Molong, Eugowra, and Parkes.

The buyback scheme could give homeowners the chance to sell their property to the government so they could relocate to safer grounds.

Resilience measures: Homeowners could apply for grants between $50,000 to $100,000 to retrofit their homes, raise their houses to a safer level, or rebuild homes with enhanced flood resilience.

These measures could reduce the impact of future floods while safeguarding homes and lives.

Expert assessments: A flood expert may give personalised advice on improving a home's flood resistance.

This ensures that homeowners are equipped with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their property.


However, the assistance program also garnered mixed reactions from the community.

Laurie Jones has been repairing his flood-damaged home with limited resources.

He expressed hesitation in accepting a buyback unless it would let him stay in the community.

Couple Pat and Leanne Jones' home has been earmarked for resilience measures.

However, they feel that the program's timing may be 'too late for them and other people'.

'We will go through the application and have a look at it. But now that we have the house back together, we might not want to go that way because it's taken a lot of our own money to get it fixed,' Mr Jones said.

Yet, the couple also thought that other residents may benefit from this program.


The Eugowra Progress Association, represented by Sean Haynes, voiced the need for additional funding.

'We've continued to advocate that the community needs more reassurance that there's more funding there,' Mr Haynes said.

'From the initial interest in the program, we envisioned that it isn't enough. That $40 million is spread across four local government areas.'

Federal Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister and NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said that they would assess the demand for the program before adding more funds.

This cautious approach suggests that additional support may be forthcoming if the need arises.

Residents of the affected areas were encouraged to apply for assistance, which may help them recover from the devastating aftermath.

Interested parties may apply for the Resilient Homes Program here.
Have you applied for the aid, or do you know someone who could benefit from it? Share your experiences and thoughts about the program in the comments section below. Let's discuss the impact this program could have on our communities.