Ms JODIE HARRISON (Charlestown—Minister for Women, Minister for Seniors, and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault)—In the early hours of 23 May this year, the lives of 15 families in New Lambton changed suddenly when a major landslip struck. Homes were damaged, families were forced to evacuate, and the safety of the area was thrown into question. What should have been an ordinary, although stormy, night turned into the beginning of an event that continues to disrupt lives months later. Since that night residents have been facing not only the visible damage to their homes and streets, but also the far more difficult challenge of uncertainty. Each time heavy rain falls, the land shifts again. That ongoing instability makes it impossible for families to plan with confidence, and the toll it has taken is significant. The waiting, the not knowing and the constant fear that more damage could occur have left families exhausted. I have spoken with residents who are directly impacted.

Their resilience is admirable, but the strain is clear. It is impossible to plan for the future when every rainfall feels like another setback. Children are unsettled, families are displaced—they are not allowed to go back into their homes—and many simply feel that they have no clear information about what lies ahead. Some residents are unsure whether they will ever be able to return home, while others remain anxious about how safe their neighbourhood really is. These are people who want to move forward, yet they remain stuck in limbo.

I have also met with City of Newcastle Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Bath and Executive Director of City Infrastructure Robert Dudgeon. The council's role has been central from the beginning. The initial response phase, which ran from 23 May until 28 July, focused on stabilising the site and ensuring people's immediate safety. Temporary measures were put in place to reduce the most immediate risks, and the council worked to keep residents away from danger zones. Since 29 July, the council has been leading the recovery phase, which is far more complex and will inevitably take more time.

We do not yet know how deep the instability runs or how long it will take to resolve. This lack of clarity is one of the hardest parts for residents, who are desperate for timelines and answers but are instead met with more questions. The council is now establishing a local recovery committee. This is a welcome step, but it will only be effective if residents feel engaged and informed. Unfortunately, many in the community have already expressed frustration about poor communication. They need timely and honest updates, even if those updates do not have all the answers yet. In situations like this, clear communication is just as important as the engineering work itself. Families deserve to know that their questions are being taken seriously, and they need reassurance that the recovery process is not happening behind closed doors.

The challenge now is to ensure that the recovery is not something done to residents, but something done with them. Recovery cannot be delivered as a set of decisions handed down; it must be shaped in partnership with the people most affected. Families need confidence that the council is listening, that their voices will guide the path forward, and that their safety and wellbeing are the highest priorities. There is no easy fix here. The road to recovery will be long and, at times, frustrating. The scale of the landslip means that progress will not come overnight. There will be technical challenges and difficult decisions ahead. But I am confident that with open communication, consistent leadership and genuine community involvement, a way forward can be found. The residents of New Lambton deserve nothing less than a recovery process that restores trust, provides answers and ensures their safety. They have already shown remarkable resilience in the face of uncertainty. Now it is up to those leading the recovery to match that resilience with clarity, action and care.