Disaster recovery assistance is available across a number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the New England following severe storms in December. 

Those in the Glen Innes Severn LGA are eligible for assistance following events from 2 December 2020 onwards.

Meanwhile, people in the Armidale, Gwydir, Inverell and Tamworth LGAs can apply for assistance following storms from 10 December onwards.

Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

“These storms caused significant disruption across the east of the state and our region including heavy rain, road closures, flooding and landslips,” Mr Joyce said.

“In fact, rainfall was more than twice the December average over much of New England and the Northwest Slopes.

“The Australian Government is committed to ensuring the region's recovery is effective and will continue to work alongside local communities to ensure that they have all the support they need.”

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 

This latest assistance complements additional measures announced earlier this month for Glen Innes Severn and Tamworth LGAs following severe storms in January.

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 raa.nsw.gov.au 

Further information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at disasterassist.gov.au 
 
(ENDS)