Residents living permanently in caravan parks and retirement villages and residents of multiple tenancies can now apply for the NSW Government's Back Home Grant, helping restore flood-damaged property and replace essential items.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said changes to the Back Home Grant guidelines will extend access to the payment in the flood-affected local government areas (LGAs) of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Hawkesbury, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
"Everyone's circumstances are unique and it's important that all residents in these eight flood-affected LGAs can access the same support, regardless of their living arrangements," Ms Cooke said.
"We have changed the guidelines through consultation with residents and local MPs so that more people can receive financial support to repair their properties and replace essential household items."
Changes to the Back Home Grant guidelines mean that:
- Permanent residents of caravan parks and retirement villages who own their dwellings, whether fixed or movable, are now eligible to apply for the $20,000 owner-occupier grant;
- Tenants who have lease agreements for a dwelling that is on the same land as another eligible dwelling (for example, a granny flat) will be able to apply for the $5,000 tenants' grant; and
- Tenants with a lease agreement in a dwelling that has been divided into multiple self-contained residences, but not formally through a subdivision or strata process, will be able to apply for the $5,000 tenants' grant.
There are two streams of the Back Home Grant: up to $20,000 for owner-occupiers, and $5,000 for tenants.
More than 4,600 applications, totalling $65.2 million, for the Back Home Grant have been approved since the payment went live on 20 April.
