Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton has welcomed the extension of disaster assistance for seven additional local New South Wales communities in response to flooding which occurred from late August.

Mr Coulton said the funding announced today would assist the Brewarrina Shire Council in ensuring it has the resources and support needed to recover from the impacts of the floods.

A range of recovery assistance is now available to help the communities of Albury, Brewarrina, Carrathool, Greater Hume, Griffith, Lockhart and Wagga Wagga, taking the total number of disaster declared local government areas to forty-three.

Under the NDRRA, a range of assistance is available to help flood affected individuals, small businesses, primary producers, and the local councils with their recovery, including:

• 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 non-profit organisations.

“The Australian Government stands ready to assist affected local communities to get back on their feet, and I am pleased to see this funding announced,” Mr Coulton said.

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 raa.nsw.gov.au.

Further information on disaster assistance is available at disasterassist.gov.au and emergency.nsw.gov.au.