Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, has welcomed news that disaster recovery assistance is now available to Armidale Regional and Tenterfield Shire Councils following severe storms and floods from 10 March, 2021 onwards. 

“The assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) will go a long way to help repair roads damaged as a result of the deluge experienced in the region,” Mr Joyce said. 

New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services, David Elliott, said many communities experienced significant disruption due to heavy rainfall and flooding over several days, including damage to and closure of roads and schools.

“The assistance will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and support households, small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and councils as they continue to repair damaged assets and essential public assets, such as roads,” Minister Elliot said. 

Assistance 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 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 or Service NSW at: www.disasterassistance.service.nsw.gov.au

(ENDS)