Photo caption: Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton flew over Moree to inspect the damage following the flood last week. Moree Plains is one of a number of local government areas in the Parkes electorate eligible for the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The Australian and NSW Governments are looking ahead to the next stage of clean-up and recovery grants following the recent catastrophic storm and flood event, in helping communities begin to rebuild and recover.

The clean-up and recovery grants are being provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and are available to eligible people in the Brewarrina, Cobar, Gilgandra, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Lachlan, Moree Plains, Narrabri, and Walgett local government areas.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the Australian and New South Wales governments have agreed to cost share recovery grants to small business of up $50,000 and grants to primary producers of up $75,000.

“The package will provide direct assistance to residents, primary producers and small businesses to clean-up and dispose of debris from their properties, and help them get back on their feet,” Mr Coulton said.

“The Australian Defence Force personnel, alongside NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW, have already been deployed.

“Teams are going from house to house, hosing out properties and removing damaged items, as well as sandbagging and clearing debris.

“These storms and floods have been an enormous blow on the back of the drought, but I know that communities in the region are resilient and, with the support of the Australian and NSW governments, they will recover strongly from this latest set-back.”

The NSW Storm and Flood Clean-up Program includes:

• Residential clean-up – to assist residents in flood affected areas whose homes have been damaged by floodwaters
• Clean-up of essential public assets – to assist with the clean-up and debris removal activities from flood damaged public assets (e.g. roads)
• Clean-up of community, recreation and cultural assets including sporting fields
• Primary producers and small business clean-up – to assist primary producers and small businesses to clean-up and dispose of flood related debris from their properties.
• Clean-up and restoration of environmental assets – to assist with the clean-up and restoration of flood damaged, priority environmental assets including beaches
• Associated clean-up and waste disposal costs – to cover additional costs incurred by affected councils and relevant state agencies.
• Small business recovery grants up to $50,000 (direct damage) – The grants are designed to provide short-term targeted assistance for recovery and reinstatement activities, including safety inspections, repairs to premises and internal fittings, and replacement of stock.

• Primary producer recovery grants up to $75,000 (direct damage) – The grants are designed to provide short-term targeted assistance for recovery and reinstatement activities, including salvaging crops and repairs to damaged farm infrastructure (e.g. fencing) and equipment.

To connect with a Customer Care specialist, call Service NSW between 7am and 7pm on 13 77 88. The Contact Centre hours have been extended to include weekends while communities recover. Information about the Customer Care service is also available in Service NSW Centres.