Disaster assistance is now available in the local government areas of Armidale and Tamworth in response to storms and flooding that occurred from 20 October 2020 onwards.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce, said the severe storms caused localised floods and widespread damage across our communities.
Tragically, one man was killed during one of these storm events in Armidale.
“These destructive storms with reports of ‘golf ball’ size hail had caused serious damage to our infrastructure, local businesses and residential properties,” Mr Joyce said.
“Through the DRFA, a range of practical assistance measures are now available to help people in the community get back on their feet, especially those on low incomes who have limited means otherwise.”
Local councils, primary producers and small businesses may also be eligible.
Under these arrangements, state governments determine what assistance measures will be activated, and the areas in which they will be made available. The Australian Government may then reimburse state governments for up to 75 per cent of these costs.
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 the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. 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 and the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au
(ENDS)