**Information on personal hardship and distress assistance can be accessed via Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at www.service.nsw.gov.au.**
On the back of devastating floods in northern and western NSW, Senator Perin Davey has welcomed comprehensive support from the Federal Government.
The support is both reactive and proactive – with the Government announcing disaster assistance for affected Local Government Areas, alongside new funding for flood mitigation infrastructure.
“The recent rain events have been devastating for some regional communities and I warmly welcome the support the Federal Government has announced today for 18 additional Local Government Areas in regional NSW,” Senator Davey said.
“The announcement today means that emergency funding has now been extended to the LGAs of Bourke, Coonamble, Dubbo, Glen Innes Severn, Kyogle, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Muswellbrook, Narromine, Orange, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth, Walgett and Warren.”
The support follows damage inflicted on the 18 LGAs during storms and flooding in early November, with funding to be provided under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Assistance available 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
- Freight subsidies for primary producers, and
- Grants to eligible non-profit organisations.
The relief funding comes on the same day the Commonwealth has announced $50 million in new funding for flood mitigation infrastructure, under the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program, which has previously funded projects such as levee upgrades and the installation of stormwater pumps.
“I welcome these two announcements today, which demonstrate how the Federal Government is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with flood-affected communities in regional NSW, during their hour of need,” Senator Davey said.
“These flood events are heartbreaking to watch. As a Government, we do not want to stand here and watch history repeat itself.
“Once the floodwaters recede, it’s vitally important that communities have that reassurance to know that there is funding available to help protect them from future flooding.”
To find out more on disaster assistance available through the Australian Government go to www.disasterassist.gov.au.
Guidelines and application forms for the second round of the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program can be found online at www.recovery.gov.au.