Member for Myall Lakes, Tanya Thompson, has welcomed the activation of the NSW Government’s Natural Disaster Declaration for the MidCoast Local Government Area (LGA), confirming support for residents following severe weather and flooding.
The Australian and NSW Governments have activated disaster assistance under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to help the community recover.
“Our community knows all too well the devastation that extreme weather events can bring.
“This declaration means that our MidCoast residents, businesses, and farmers will have access to the support they need to recover as quickly as possible,” Mrs Thompson said.
The assistance available includes:
- Assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation and essential items generally provided from evacuation or recovery centres.
- Grants for low-income, uninsured residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living.
- Grants for low-income, uninsured residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a basic, safe and habitable condition.
- 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 and grants to sporting and recreation clubs to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property.
- Freight subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.
- Financial support towards counter disaster activity undertaken by emergency service organisations to keep communities safe.
“As floodwaters rise, it is important to stay informed, follow evacuation advice, and check in on your neighbours, especially the elderly, isolated, or anyone who might need extra support,” Mrs Thompson said.
More information on disaster assistance can be found at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/recovery and www.disasterassist.gov.au
