Mayor Kinne Ring welcomes Ministers to witness flood devastation
Published on 27 May 2025
Kempsey Shire Council Mayor Kinne Ring welcomed a delegation of state and federal Ministers to the region on Monday (26 May) to witness firsthand the widespread devastation caused by recent flooding and to advocate for urgent recovery support.
Since November 2009 there have been 26 natural disaster declarations for the Kempsey Shire with multiple floods, bushfires, intense drought and coastal storms. While the Macleay River, that winds its way through most of the shire, is critical to the agriculture industry and the area’s development, it also creates a significant and complex catchment area of 11,500 square kilometres, much of which has been devastated by the recent flood.
The visit, supported by the Member for Oxley, Michael Kemp MP and the Member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan MP, included:
- The Hon. Kristy McBain, Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
- The Hon. Janelle Saffin, NSW Minister for Small Business, Recovery, and the North Coast
- The Hon. Jenny Aitchison, NSW Minister for Roads and Regional Transport
Also in attendance were senior representatives from the NSW Reconstruction Authority and the National Emergency Management Agency, who joined the Ministers and Council in inspecting the damage, hearing firsthand from locals and discussing recovery priorities.
During the visit, the Ministers travelled across the region, meeting with impacted farmers, business owners, community members, volunteers and emergency service personnel. Mayor Ring acknowledged the visit as providing a powerful insight into the scale of the disaster and the impact on the local community.
“This was a critical opportunity to show our state and federal leaders the real impacts of this disaster on our community, local businesses and the agricultural industry,” said Mayor Ring.
“I am very grateful for their time and attention and am calling on them to provide further funding to help Council, our residents and businesses rebuild and recover.”
The mayor also praised the extraordinary efforts of the community in the face of adversity.
“It’s been amazing to see the number of people standing up to help those affected. We’re seeing emergency services personnel and volunteers locally and from all over Australia here to help - whether it’s help for farmers needing fodder, families cleaning up, or delivering supplies - that spirit of solidarity is what keeps us going,” said Mayor Kinne Ring.
Council will continue to work closely with all levels of government and community partners to support recovery efforts. If you have been impacted and need further information on recovery support available to you, please visit Council’s website and follow Kempsey Shire Council on Facebook.