Government help in wake of flooding

The Federal and NSW Governments are delivering more funding to help communities recover from the recent severe flooding across the state.

This will include damage caused by east coast severe weather and flooding in May and damage caused by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The funding will provide direct support for residents, farmers, small businesses and non-profit organisations in a number of regions, including the Central Coast, and includes help for people who have lost their homes.

Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), with the new funding to provide immediate and longer-term assistance for individuals, families and communities affected by flooding.

Support includes: grants of up to $25,000 for eligible small businesses (with fewer than 20 employees) and non-profit organisations to help clean up and restore their business; grants of up to $25,000 for eligible primary producers directly impacted by flooding to help with clean-up and getting their operations back on track; grants of up to $10,000 for eligible rural landholders to assist with clean-up, repairs and recovery work, and a $180 hardship payment for individuals, capped at $900 for households of five or more, to help cover essential items like food, clothing and medicine following the recent flood event.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the funding was about making sure people got the support they needed to recover and rebuild with dignity.

“Whether it’s helping families get back into safe housing, or supporting local businesses and farmers to clean up and keep going, we’re standing with communities every step of the way,” he said.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the funding package recognised that people were doing it tough.

“We are making sure there’s money for clean-up, to help farmers, and helping businesses get back on their feet,” he said.

“For a natural disaster of this size and scale, we’re going to be with these communities for the long haul.”

“We will keep working closely with our people in local governments, service providers and community organisations to ensure support reaches those who need it most.”

For more information on support available to primary producers, rural land owners, and small businesses go to https://www.pm.gov.au/media/more-support-small-business-and-primary-producer-flood-recovery