A new support package for flood-affected communities across New South Wales will be released today to support farmers, businesses and local councils to recover and rebuild.
This initial $434.7 million of funding from the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments will be provided to support communities clean up and remove damage and debris, as well as further support local government areas (LGAs) that have been flood-affected.
Grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and up to $50,000 for small businesses and not for profit organisations devastated by flooding will soon be available through NSW Government agencies, with registration now open through Service NSW. This program will be demand driven.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said this package is just the first phase of the financial support that will support communities in need.
"We will be there to help farmers, small businesses and every community in New South Wales to get back on their feet as soon as possible when flood waters recede," the Prime Minister said.
"Farmers will need to restock and rebuild and small businesses will need help replacing damaged goods and shop fronts, and when more support is needed, more support will be given.
"I have already asked the New South Wales Premier to provide my Government with a proposal for a second support package to ensure all communities get the support they need.
"We are working with Queensland on what support will be made available under Category D funding, ensuring communities receive the funding they require to rebuild, and my Government has requested a proposal of projects from the Queensland Government.
"This initial package is in addition to the federally funded $1,000 disaster relief payment and the 13-week income replacement for employees and small business, which to date has already paid out almost $63 million in a matter of days."
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government stood ready to support communities hit hard by the floods across the State.
"We activated these measures during the 2021 floods, and we have done so again - they are large grants that will get much-needed funds to people quickly to provide some relief and assistance," Premier Perrottet said.
"We know these supports will have an immediate positive effect and I would encourage anyone in NSW impacted by these awful floods to please contact Service NSW and find out what you are eligible for."
Seventeen LGAs have been declared as disaster areas and are eligible for support through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie said the activation of extraordinary Category D grant assistance under the DRFA was vital to help kick start the recovery of affected primary producers and small businesses.
"The Commonwealth and NSW Governments are focused on giving small businesses and not-for-profits the tools they need to clean-up, rebuild and keep operating," Minister McKenzie said.
"We will continue to work with the NSW Government to roll out ongoing targeted support for communities impacted by these devastating storms and floods."
New South Wales Deputy Premier Paul Toole said a phased approach to support was being adopted to ensure communities had the resources and support they needed at every stage from response to recovery.
"We know it's going to be a long road to recovery for many of our regional communities and this targeted funding will ensure they get immediate assistance as well as in the weeks and months ahead," Deputy Premier Toole said.
"In addition to the funding now available, Service NSW offers a one-stop shop for all information and support on disaster assistance by phoning 13 77 88 or online via service.nsw.gov.au."
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the mass clean-up is already underway and recovery grants have been designed to kick-start recovery.
"Many areas are still in the emergency phase and many more are unfortunately at risk of flooding. We are focused on delivering as much support as possible to impacted communities right across the State," Ms Cooke said.
"While the acute response continues, we are working tirelessly in the background preparing for the significant clean-up and recovery ahead of us."
People in NSW requiring assistance are urged to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at: www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods.
People and businesses can register their interest for these grant programs through Service NSW, with funding soon available through NSW Government agencies at: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/storm-and-flood-assistance-businesses
The phase one package includes:
- Demand driven - $75,000 grants to assist primary producers that have suffered direct damage from the recent severe weather and flooding. NSW Government estimate this to initially be $111.5 million.
- Demand driven - $50,000 grants to assist small business and not-for-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage from the event. NSW Government estimate this to initially be $89.7 million.
- $210 million to assist affected communities with the clean-up and removal of flood and storm related damage, debris and green waste. This will enable LGAs to work with Resilience NSW and NSW Government agencies to coordinate clean-up activities in their communities.
- $1 million grants to impacted councils to assist with their immediate social, built, economic and environmental needs. This list may continue to grow.
- $6.5 million to provide Community Recovery Officers to support communities impacted by this event.
The 17 LGAs are Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed.
This is one tranche of assistance that will be offered to NSW residents, and is in addition to the disaster payments already available to flood victims.
The Commonwealth stands ready to provide similar financial help to victims of the flood disaster in Queensland once a request is received from the Queensland Premier.
