NSW Premier Mike Baird has written to the De La Salle Brothers thanking them for their offer of accommodation for Syrian refugees at the LaSalle Motel at Narooma..
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Mr Baird personally signed the letter that states he is involved in discussions with the Federal Government on the arrangements for resettling the refugees.
Brother David Hawke, speaking from a De La Salle retreat in Melbourne, said the letter was a very positive step forward and we welcome the Premier’s support.
It was positive to see that Mr Baird has passed the offer onto the Department of Premier and Cabinet and in particular to Peter Shergold, who is acting as the NSW Coordinator-General for Refugee Resettlement, he said.
“We were delighted to receive the letter of support from the Premier and particularly that he chose to personally sign it,” he said.
The Lassallian Mission Council had not received any feedback on the Federal level, although there had been the change in Prime Minister and cabinet.
The Catholic organisation’s Narooma proposal was to offer the motel to home refugees until they found their feet, but that the government pay all costs associated with housing and servicing their needs.
Brother David said while his organisation did not have the funds to look after the refugees, its mission was to help with education of the less fortunate around the world and so he would be keen to see this happen at Narooma.
Harvey Ball, developer of the Shearwater Apartments at Narooma, remains disappointed that the La Salle Brothers did not accept his previous offer to purchase the facility to house single mothers.
After becoming aware of the Premier's letter, he has written to the Premier stating his concerns about the motel being stripped of amenities and the potential cost to the taxpayers.
In other developments, the Bega Valley Rural Australians for Refugees (BVRAR) was invited by the Red Cross to a meeting held in Moruya on Wednesday.
The Red Cross Australia is helping to determine the ability of towns all over Australia to re-settle the 12,000 Syrian refugees that the government has committed to accepting, as well as asylum seekers already in Australia.
The Moruya meeting was to look at the capacity of the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley shires to settle a small portion of these refugees and asylum seekers.
Council representatives from both the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla Shires were present, as well as a member from the Batemans Bay Chamber of Commerce, members of RACE (Refugee Action Coalition Eurobodalla), IRT aged care, Elm Grove Sanctuary Trust, and Amnesty International.
“The meeting was very positive, though information coming from the Federal and State Governments is still not very clear,” BVRAR spokesperson Corinne Fernandez-Markov said.
“The group's first objective is to organize a database of available housing, services, job opportunities, and local groups who will be able to support refugees and asylum seekers who may come here.”
The action group is looking for the following:
- Doctors (GP's and specialists), psychologists and dentists, who are willing to bulk bill
- Teachers of English as a Second Language
- Vacant granny flats or apartments, or vacant second homes on rural blocks of land at discounted rental fee
- Social groups willing to support refugees settle into the area and help them meet others.
- Business owners willing to offer employment and training to suitable refugees (they will have a proper working visa)
- Day care operators willing to support a family in their day care.
- People willing to help organise and raise community awareness on the plight of refugees and asylum seekers through lectures, meetings, writing articles, radio interviews, market stalls, etc.
If you are able to support in any of the ways described above, please send details to BVRAR (begavalleyrar@gmail.com. ) or like them on Facebook - Bega Valley RAR.
Bega Valley Shire Council’s next council meeting on Wednesday, October 14 at 2pm will also have a public forum presentation by the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast requesting assistance and support on the Shire as a “Refugee Welcome Zone.”
The public forum presentation by the Social Justice Advocates of the Sapphire Coast encouraging the Shire to expand on its pronouncement of being a “Refugee Welcome Zone” will be at 1pm.