SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITIES HIT BY STORMS AND FLOODS

Sunday, 21 March 2021

The NSW Government has issued a total of 34 Natural Disaster Declarations over the last 48 hours to ensure immediate support reaches communities across the State affected by the floods and storms.

Disaster declarations have been issued for the following Local Government Areas in collaboration with the Commonwealth: Armidale, Bellingen, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock City, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour City, Cumberland, Dungog, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Kempsey, Ku-ring-gai, Lake Macquarie, Liverpool, Maitland City, Mid-Coast, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle City, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Sutherland, Tenterfield Blacktown, The Hills and Wollondilly.

The assistance now available is one of a series of funding packages that will be triggered by the Government as the impacts of the floods are assessed:

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 eligible non-profit organisations.

Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said although the disaster is still underway, the NSW Government is already looking ahead to the recovery and ongoing assistance.

NSW is experiencing the most significant storm and flood event that we have seen in decades, with widespread destruction affecting countless communities,” Mr Elliott said.

“We have worked quickly to declare disasters in 34 Local Government Areas. This assistance activates practical and immediate supports for communities, primary producers, small businesses, not-for-profits and councils.”

“We will stand side by side with our communities over coming weeks and months as we work through the significant recovery that lays ahead of us.”

For information call Disaster Customer Care Service on 13 77 88 or visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/