Disaster assistance has been extended to a further 15 local government areas across NSW to help people and business heavily impacted by the recent storms, flooding and cyclone.
This extension means that disaster assistance has been activated in a total of 71 New South Wales local government areas for the recent storms and floods. Disaster assistance may be activated in further areas as impact assessments are completed.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said the impacts of the storms and floods are still being realised.
“This was a serious disaster event which caused significant damage to roads, electricity infrastructure, motor vehicles, businesses and residential properties” Mr Littleproud said.
“Importantly, a range of practical assistance measures are now available to support the affected communities with their recovery.”
The NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott said communities experienced significant losses and disruption due to damaging winds, flooding, road closures and power outages to homes and businesses.
“The assistance being announced today will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets, such as roads.” Mr Elliott said.
Assistance is now available in the following local government areas: Armidale Regional, Bathurst, Bellingen, Dungog, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Kempsey, Kyogle, Liverpool Plains, Lithgow, Nambucca, Parkes, Richmond Valley, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys and Upper Lachlan.
Disaster assistance has also been extended to Lord Howe Island, which was impacted by ex-tropical cyclone Uesi on 13 February 2020.
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
- help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
- support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
- concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
- freight subsidies for primary producers, and
- grants to eligible non-profit organisations
If you are uninsured and have low income, for information on personal hardship and distress assistance, please contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au
Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au
