Georges River communities will be able to seek disaster recovery assistance through a jointly funded program between Australian Government and state and territory governments.
Yesterday the Federal Government announced that the Georges River Local Government Area will be included in the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), following severe storms and flooding from 22 February 2022.
Mayor Nick Katris has acknowledged the support and encouraged impacted individuals and local businesses to seek DRFA assistance.
"I thank the Australian and NSW governments for their prompt decision to include Georges River in the flood recovery and assistance program.
"The DRFA assistance includes support to individuals, businesses and non-profit organisations.
"This is much needed help, as Georges River Council assists in immediate recovery, addresses emerging needs and helps to build community resilience.
"The floods have been devastating for so many, we want to make this support known in our communities as far and wide as possible."
In response to the storms and floods, DRFA assistance has been activated in 45 local council areas including Georges River.
It provides assistance for individuals, through:
- Immediate assistance, which is intended to meet the essential emergency need of people who are directly affected by the disaster.
- Grants for essential household content, which will assist with the cost of replacing household items essential to maintain a basic standard of living.
- Grants for essential structural repairs to homes, which provides a contribution toward essential structural repairs to low income home owners.
Assistance for small businesses, non-profit and primary producers:
- Recovery Grants for primary producers – up to $75,000 are available to primary producers that have suffered direct damage to help cover eligible clean-up and reinstatement costs.
- Recovery Grants for small businesses and non-profit organisations – up to $50,000 for those that have suffered direct damage to help cover eligible clean-up and reinstatement costs.
- Concessional interest rate loans to small business and primary producers – $130,000 loans at a fixed concessional interest rate for small businesses and primary producers.
