DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR HILLTOPS, WEDDIN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS

Hilltops and Weddin Local Government Areas now have access to disaster assistance following severe storms which lashed the region from 28 November onwards.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) would help the regions get back on their feet.

“The storms which lashed the Hilltops and Weddin regions caused significant and widespread damage,” Mr McCormack said.

“Access to the DRFA will allow Hilltops and Weddin Councils to undertake a range of practical assistance measures to help with the clean-up as well as repairs to infrastructure, including grants to replace essential household items or repairing structural damage to homes.”

Assistance available to 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 www.raa.nsw.gov.au

Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au

Shane Manning