Disaster Assistance Extended Following Severe Weather and Flooding in NSW
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE - 1 December 2021
SENATOR THE HON BRIDGET MCKENZIE - MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND NATIONAL RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE
THE HON DAVID ELLIOTT MP - NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTER FOR POLICE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
DISASTER ASSISTANCE EXTENDED FOLLOWING SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING IN NSW
Disaster assistance is now available in 18 additional local government areas in regional NSW following severe storms and flooding from Tuesday 9 November 2021.
The additional LGAs are Bourke, Coonamble, Dubbo, Glen Innes Severn, Kyogle, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Muswellbrook, Narromine, Orange, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth, Walgett and Warren.
These areas are in addition to the 20 Local Government Areas that are already receiving assistance as a result of the Australian and New South Wales Governments.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the ongoing severe weather has caused significant widespread damage across regional NSW.
“Continued heavy rain and flooding has resulted in damage to major roads and residential properties, with the impacts unlikely to become clear until flood waters start to recede.”
“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with these communities to assist in repairing the damage caused by these events,” Minister McKenzie said.
“Again, I urge people to check local emergency advice and alerts, and never, ever drive through flood waters,” Minister McKenzie said.
New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services the Hon David Elliott said further flooding in the Upper Hunter region over the weekend had led to several evacuations and flood rescues.
“The assistance being announced today will help ensure councils and individuals impacted by this event have the support they need to get back on their feet.”
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply)
• 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 Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at www.service.nsw.gov.au
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
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au
Media contacts:
Cath Heidrich 0428 051 736 (Minister McKenzie)
Angela Burford 0460 429 702 (Minister Elliott)
Media Release - DISASTER ASSISTANCE EXTENDED FOLLOWING SEVERE WEATHER AND FLOODING IN NSW 1.12.21