Disaster assistance is now available in ten additional local government areas following severe storms and flooding which continues to impact areas of New South Wales.
The additional LGAs are Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Mid-Western, Oberon, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Walcha, and Wentworth.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Nationals Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie, said severe weather from early November has continued to impact a number of communities.
“We’re seeing more flooding and storm damage, and we know more rain is on the way. This is having a particularly significant impact in the south east of the state,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The impact on small communities who are still building back after fires and floods is significant, and the assistance being announced today will help ensure those communities continue to receive the support they need.”
Further flooding in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven in recent days has caused significant damage, and the NSW State Emergency Services has now maintained a significant operation for over a month, with support from a number of other state agencies and councils.
These new areas are in addition to the initial declaration for the local government areas of Bathurst, Blayney, Blue Mountains, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Cobar, Coonamble, Cowra, Dubbo, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Kyogle, Lachlan, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Moree Plains, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, Parkes, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Upper Hunter, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, and Weddin.
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
- Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply)
- 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, and
- Freight subsidies for primary producers.
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
To apply for a concessional loan, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au
