Disaster recovery assistance has been extended to the Central Coast and Wingecarribee Local Government Areas in response to severe storms and floods that occurred in late July.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said the effects of the intense storms and floods in July are still being felt.
“This was a serious disaster event that caused significant damage to roads and related infrastructure,” Minister Littleproud said.
“Through the DRFA, a range of practical assistance has now been extended to help individuals recover and to assist councils with ongoing clean-up and repairs to infrastructure.”
New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the SES received over 170 Requests for Assistance in the LGAs of Central Coast and Wingecarribee.
“Communities experienced significant disruption due to these storms and floods,” Minister Elliott said.
“The assistance being announced today will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets, such as roads.”
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
- help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
- support for affected 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
- freight subsidies for primary producers, and
- grants to eligible non-profit organisations
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au
Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au
