Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has announced a $4 million package to help Hilltops Council clean up after the floods of January 11 and 12.
Ms Cooke said the Council had applied for assistance from the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in the wake of the overnight storms.
“The severe rainfall and subsequent flooding caused a great deal of damage to the east of Young and towards Harden, and it was significant enough for Hilltops Council to apply for and receive financial assistance,” Ms Cooke said.
“Hardest hit were the areas around Douglas Gap Road, Murringo Road, Moppity Road, McMahons Road, Goorama Road and Beulambil Road.
“This $4 million relief package will enable Hilltops Council to help the community get back on their feet.”
Mayor of Hilltops Council Brian Ingram said the funding would make a significant contribution to Council’s ability to address the storm damage.
“After the storms we assessed the damage and made a submission to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements fund to enable us to more efficiently make repairs and clean up after the flooding,” Mr Ingram said.
“The funding from the NSW Government will make a huge difference to our ability to do this – storms are of course natural but they have financial impacts which can have lasting effects on any council which deals with the clean-up.”
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said the funding was being made available through the DRFA to support response operations, and repair flood damaged assets.
“Communities experienced significant losses and disruption due to flash flooding, localised hailstorms and numerous road closures,” Minister Grant said.
“This funding is about lending a helping hand so people can get back on their feet a little easier.”
Assistance measures available under the DRFA may include:
- 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.
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan, grant or freight subsidy, 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 disasterassist.gov.au and the NSW emergency information and response website at emergency.nsw.gov.au.
