Joint media release with The Hon Steph Cooke MP
Jointly funded disaster assistance is now available in an additional 12 local government areas (LGAs) following severe flooding which began on 14 September and continues to impact parts of New South Wales.
The additional LGAs are: Balranald, Bland, Central Darling, Coolamon, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Hawkesbury, Hilltops, Kyogle, Lismore, Lockhart, Richmond Valley and Upper Hunter.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, said damages to areas within the LGAs had been significant.
"The intense and reoccurring floods have left councils across the state with major repair works," Minister Watt said.
"For many of these regions, particularly around the Northern Rivers, they have been hit repeatedly, which has a real emotional and financial impact for communities.
"We are continuing to work with all levels of government to provide assistance, and we are constantly monitoring and assessing this rapidly evolving situation."
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery said 55 LGAs have now been natural disaster declared as a result of the flooding which began on 14 September.
"As the extent of damage becomes clearer and damage assessments are completed, we will partner with the Commonwealth to provide additional support and assistance to our impacted regional, rural and remote communities," Ms Cooke said.
"With already saturated catchments, full rivers and spilling dams, we know the flooding impacting many communities across New South Wales will continue not for weeks, but months."
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
- help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply)
- support for 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 RAA NSW.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website.
