Disaster assistance is now available in 13 NSW local government areas, including Queanbeyan-Palerang, Bega, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Yass and Snowy Monaro, following severe storms and floods across the NSW coast last weekend.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the extreme weather has caused widespread damage and disruption to local communities.
“This continues to be a serious weather event that caused significant damage to roads, businesses and residential properties,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Through the DRFA, a range of practical assistance measures are now available to help individuals get back on their feet and help councils with ongoing clean-up and repairs to infrastructure.”
NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said the SES received more than 1,500 Requests for Assistance, including more than 40 flood rescues.
“Emergency services have responded to communities experiencing significant losses and disruption due to damaging winds and flooding,” Mr Elliott said.
“The assistance being announced [today, 11 August] will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets, such as roads.”
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.
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan or grant, 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
