Communities in northern New South Wales impacted by flooding earlier this year are to receive Government assistance, it has been announced.
Minister for justice, Michael Keenan, and New South Wales minister for emergency services, Troy Grant, said that funds will be made available via the jointly-funded Commonwealth-state natural disaster relief and recovery arrangements (NDRRA) for areas hit by flooding in the wake of Cyclone Debbie.
The flooding, which began on March 28, hit the north of the state and assistance will now be given to the Clarence Valley and Tenterfield local government.
“Through the NDRRA, the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments are working together to ensure that all flood affected communities have the support they need to recover as quickly as possible,” Keenan said.
Under the NDRRA assistance is available to help those eligible whose homes or belongings were damaged by the flooding as well as support for local councils with clean-up costs and restoration to essential damaged assets.
The NDRRA also allows for freight subsidies for primary producers and grants to non-profit organisations as well as concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profits.
Eight local government areas are now receiving NDRRA assistance from flooding related to cyclone Debbie as Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed all recover from the major event.
“This announcement will ensure that communities in these new areas can rebuild public infrastructure, like roads as quickly as possible with the help of this assistance,” Grant said.
Last week, the ICA revealed that claims costs related to Cyclone Debbie were approaching $1bn as more than 58,000 claims had been submitted to insurers.
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