Joint media release with The Hon Steph Cooke MP
Joint-funded disaster assistance is now available in an additional 11 local government areas (LGAs) following severe flooding across New South Wales which began on 14 September 2022 and continues to impact significant parts of the State.
The LGAs are Bega Valley, Junee, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Shoalhaven, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Temora, Walcha, Yass Valley and the Unincorporated Area of New South Wales.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, said the support would help councils and businesses get back on their feet.
"I'd encourage communities to see what sort of support is available under the DRFA and how it can help with recovery efforts," Minister Watt said.
"These intense floods have left major repairs in their wake, and we'll continue to work with the NSW Government to make sure communities have access to the tools they need to get back on their feet."
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said 66 LGAs across New South Wales have now been subject to a natural disaster declaration for this weather event.
"The slow-moving nature of this flooding across western and southern parts of our State means that the impacts on households, primary producers and businesses will continue for many weeks to come," Ms Cooke said.
"As the extent of the damage becomes clearer we will continue working with the Commonwealth to unlock additional levels of financial support so that communities can clean up and recover."
Assistance is being provided through the 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 Rural Assistance Authority.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website.
