NEW ENGLAND FIRE AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT

NEW ENGLAND FIRE AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT

01 Nov 2023

The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Member for New England

Media Release

1 November 2023

FIRE AND EMERGENCY SUPPORT FOR THE NEW ENGLAND

Disaster assistance is now available for the New England electorate impacted by the fires.

Local Government regions of Inverell and Tenterfield can now access the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), for bushfires from 13 October onwards.

Assistance under the DRFA may include:

  • Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply)
  • 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 nonprofit organisations, and
  • Freight subsidies for primary producers.

 

For information relating to financial assistance, replacing lost documents, location of your nearest recovery centre and more, please contact Service NSW on 137788 or visit www.nsw.gov.au

To apply for a concessional loan or primary producer grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au

Further information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au  

For support with livestock and animals please call the Local Land Service Emergency Assistance for Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline 1800814647

An emergency evacuation centre has been setup at the Tenterfield Showgrounds Main Pavilion.

While other supports are coming online later, you can now access:

  • Accommodation for humans and animals,
  • Water
  • Meals

Access to the centre entry is via Manners St (look for the evacuation centre sign).

Multiple service agencies are in place at the hubs to support affected residents such as hardship assistance packages, housing services, the latest emergency information, health services, and on-site counselling.

To check fire conditions and updates go to www.rfs.nsw.gov.au

As we enter another bushfire season residents are strongly encouraged to follow the pan and prepare guidelines at www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/plan-and-prepare 

Please continue to look out for one another and above all, stay safe.

 

Media Contact:

Heidi Williamson

PH: 0436807792

 

Send an Enquiry