The NSW Nationals in the state government are fast-tracking advanced payments of more than $20 million in emergency funding for councils in the north and south of the state to urgently carry out work to restore access to flood-impacted areas.
Nationals Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the advanced funding would help 17 Local Government Areas impacted by the devastating flood event in October and November 2022 as they recover.
“The NSW Nationals in government are committed to ensuring measures are taken to help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters,” Mr Farraway said.
“Our top priority is getting our communities who have been impacted by flooding on track to recovery as quickly as possible.
“By putting emergency funding into the bank accounts of our councils faster councils can get on with the job of repairing and rebuilding damaged road and transport infrastructure sooner.”
Mr Farraway said the new support is on top of more than $60 million in emergency funding already provided to councils devastated by severe weather across the Central West and North Coast last year.
“It’s evident more now than ever that we need to build our infrastructure back to be more resilient against mother nature, which is why the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government pushed for the $312.5 million Betterment Program for councils in the Northern Rivers,” Mr Farraway said.
“This new, first of its kind, natural disaster funding program allows councils to build back their road and transport infrastructure to withstand extreme weather events, it’s the way of the future and will help our great state to come back stronger after a natural disaster.”
