Joint media release with the Hon Catherine King MP, acting Minister for Emergency Management, and the Hon Steph Cooke MP
The Albanese and New South Wales governments are ramping up their efforts to help residents displaced by the recent flooding find more secure accommodation as they undertake their recovery journey.
The jointly funded $182.2 million package will provide:
- Back Home grants of up to $20,000 to support owner-occupiers, landlords and renters to repair their homes and replace essential household items
- Up to 16 weeks of rental support payments for flood-affected households
- A $59.4 million Central West Caravan and Modular Housing Program which will secure medium-term housing and extend the at-home caravan program, which is already being rolled out
- $8.9 million to undertake targeted residential property assessments.
This package will be targeted to the 17 most highly impacted local government areas (LGAs) of Bathurst, Cabonne, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Cowra, Dubbo, Forbes, Gunnedah, Lachlan, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains, Murray River, Narrabri, Parkes, Snowy Valleys, Upper Lachlan, Wagga Wagga and Walgett. As part of the package, $39.3 million has also been committed for the clean-up of damaged properties in LGAs that were disaster declared in the August and September events.
Applications for Back Home grants and rental support payments open today. For more information about recovery assistance, visit: NSW floods ‒ information and support services.
Information on disaster assistance is also available on the Commonwealth Government's Disaster Assist website: Disaster Assist..
Quotes attributable to Acting Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Catherine King:
Insecure housing can be incredibly stressful for families, particularly at this time of year. For many in the Central West this will be a tough Christmas as they recover from the damage and devastation of the floods.
We will stand alongside communities for the long haul.
This package will deliver more security for families and a roof over peoples' heads through the recovery process.
Together with the New South Wales Government, we will continue to look for ways to assist in the clean-up and recovery efforts.
Quotes attributable to New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery, Steph Cooke:
We've learned from previous floods that Back Home grants help to accelerate the rebuilding process for households.
We will be fast tracking the availability of these grants, with applications opening today through Service NSW.
The additional support being provided through this $182.2 million package will ensure our communities in the Central West, west and south can recover as quickly as possible from the compounding flooding they've experienced this year.
