Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education
Senator the hon Bridget Mckenzie
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience
The Hon Reece Whitby
Western Australia Minister for Emergency Services
Homeowners who suffered damage following Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja can now access up to $20,000 in Recovery and Resilience Grants to help repair their homes and ‘build back better’.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the grants are part of the $104 million joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements package announced after the devastating impact of Cyclone Seroja in April this year.
“Cyclone Seroja caused significant damage to communities, including peoples’ homes. The Australian Government recognises the benefits of helping people rebuild or repair their homes to a more resilient standard,” Minister McKenzie said.
“Under the Recovery and Resilience Grants program there are two types of reimbursement grants available – the Recovery Grant and the Resilience Grant. Insured homeowners can apply for one or both types up to the total of $20,000.
“The Resilience Grant will provide insured homeowners with the funding to undertake eligible improvements to their properties, contributing to a greater peace of mind in the advent of a future cyclone or other severe weather event.”
The Recovery Grants reimburse insured homeowners who incurred clean-up and repair costs if their insurance policy did not cover the total cost of works.
Western Australian Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Reece Whitby, said State Recovery representatives and essential services had been working for months with a focus to increase resilience in the region.
“For most people in the Mid-West, Cyclone Seroja was the first cyclone they have experienced,” Minister Whitby said.
“Recovery and Resilience Grants are an important funding support to invest in building to a higher standard.
“Knowing that you have extra measures built in, often above what is required under current code or building ratings for a region, will also assist in building confidence throughout the community should another cyclone hit.”
So far, over 120 homeowners impacted by Cyclone Seroja have lodged expressions of interest for the grant program.
Measures covered under the Resilience Grant include:
- Installation of roof structure tie-down upgrades undertaken by a registered builder.
- Replacement of garage doors and frames with wind rated garage doors undertaken by a registered business.
- Installation of window protections including cyclone shutters or debris screens undertaken by a registered business.
- Replacement of external hollow core doors with solid external grade doors undertaken by a registered business.
Grant applications are now open for eligible insured homeowners and close 31 March 2023.
Eligibility and application details for the Recovery and Resilience Grant Program are available online at dfes.wa.gov.au/recoveryandresiliencegrants.
