Six more local government areas in the Parkes electorate will be eligible for disaster assistance following severe storms and flooding, Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton announced today.
Mr Coulton said assistance is now available for the Bourke, Coonamble, Dubbo, Narromine, Walgett and Warren Local Government Areas.
These areas are now included in addition to the initial declaration for the Lachlan, Moree, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cobar, Gilgandra, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Narrabri and Warrumbungle LGAs.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), and will help councils, residents, primary producers, small businesses and community groups recover from the severe weather event and flooding that has occurred from Tuesday 9 November 2021.
“We’ve already seen significant floods across parts of the Parkes electorate and, as heavy rain continues to fall, more areas are being impacted by flooding,” Mr Coulton said.
“These floods have been devastating, particularly for our farmers who are now facing millions of dollars in losses on the cusp of what was expected to be a bumper harvest.
“The severe weather has also wreaked havoc on local infrastructure and homes, with many people displaced.
“This disaster assistance will help local councils cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets like roads and bridges.
“Residents will also receive support to get back on their feet, including grants to replace essential household contents or repair structural damage to homes.”
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.
To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/
Photo taken at Warren by Central West NSW SES, via Facebook