Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, has welcomed the news that flood-affected people in the Byron Council area are now eligible for extra financial help from the Australian Government.
The Australian Government today announced that the Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Kyogle Council areas would be added to the areas in northern NSW that are recognised for having suffered severe and large-scale damage as result of the floods.
Eligible residents who qualify for the Australia Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will now receive a special supplement, an extra $2,000 per adult, and $800 per child. This is on top of the AGDRP of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child.
“This is a great relief for many residents who have, and are, suffering and facing immense challenges because of the floods,” Mayor Lyon said.
“Many local people I have spoken to in the last week were confused about why these special payments were only announced for the people in the Clarence Valley, Lismore and Richmond Valley council areas and not Byron, Tweed or Ballina,” he said.
“I met with Shane Stone, Coordinator-General of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency today and we discussed Byron Shire’s eligibility for this additional funding as well as the next steps in the recovery phase.
“It certainly caused an enormous additional angst for some of our residents, and I am very pleased this situation has been remedied,” Mayor Lyon said.
The AGDRP is a non-means tested payment and is available to eligible people in the Byron Shire who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.
How to claim the AGDRP
- Call Services Australia on 180 22 66
- Via the myGov website
- Go to the Services Australia website
- Visit the Byron Shire Flood Recovery Centre at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall in Dalley Street.
