Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Justice and Police Troy Grant today announced disaster assistance in response to storms and floods that affected parts of Sydney in January 2016.
Mr Keenan said assistance was being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
“Today’s announcement demonstrates the commitment of the Australian and New South Wales governments to work together to help affected communities recover from disasters,” Mr Keenan said.
“While damage assessments are continuing throughout the Sydney, Hunter and Central Coast regions, disaster assistance is now available in the affected local government areas of Hurstville, Liverpool, Penrith, Wollondilly and Wyong for storms and floods that occurred on 14 and 15 January.”
Mr Grant said assistance was also being provided in response to the East Coast floods that occurred on 3 January for the local government areas of Bega Valley, Gloucester, Hawkesbury, Port Macquarie-Hastings and Wyong.
“This assistance is in addition to that announced on 14 January 2016 to the local government areas of Dungog, Eurobodalla, Great Lakes, Maitland, Newcastle, and Port Stephens, and ensures that more affected communities have access to necessary help,” Mr Grant said.
“This assistance package will provide a much needed helping hand to affected families and businesses and also ensure funding is available to help local councils clean up and restore damaged infrastructure.”
Measures available under the NDRRA for the 3 January floods and the 14 and 15 January floods, include:
• assistance to help eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged, and who meet an assets and income test;
• assistance to help councils in the affected local government areas with the costs associated with cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets;
• concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations;
• freight subsidies for primary producers; and
• grants to not-for-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, grant or freight subsidy, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au.
Information on disaster assistance available for this natural disaster can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the Emergency NSW website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.
