Cabins for rural areas, rent support for towns

A $285 million Temporary Housing Support Package will provide accommodation support to flood victims who have lost their homes.

The housing support package has the capacity to assist 25,000 households and will be focussed on getting people out of their emergency accommodation and into a more permanent place to call home.

By the end of March, they will also have access to up to 16 weeks of rental support.

The package will also fund on-site pods in rural areas to allow people to stay on their properties while they rebuild, and motorhomes and cabin accommodation to ensure there is flexible accommodation to meet people’s varying needs.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said with thousands of people displaced and many homes effectively uninhabitable, getting people out of evacuation centres and hotels and into more stable accommodation is key to helping people start their long-term recovery.

The Premier, Deputy Premier Paul Toole and Treasurer Matt Kean visited Woodburn and Broadwater yesterday, Thursday, March 10.

“This housing support package will help put a roof over the heads of the thousands of people who have lost their homes to help them get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Perrottet said.

Since February 22, 45 LGAs have been declared disaster areas and are eligible for support through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

“We are extending our critical small business and primary producer grants, as well as funding solutions to the temporary housing problem faced by so many, especially in the Northern Rivers,” Mr Kean said.

The $551.7 million Commonwealth and State Government disaster assistance package includes:

$285 million Temporary Housing Support package that includes;

$248 million rental support scheme, providing 16 weeks of rental support, which will be accessible by the end of March

$20 million to extend the temporary housing program to allow people to stay on their land in a temporary ‘pod’ dwelling while rebuilding

$10 million to supply temporary accommodation through motorhomes, with the first 20 to be delivered by Sunday

$4.5 million to support the Housing Flood Recovery Service to manage long-term housing needs and recovery

$2.5 million to provide temporary housing through the hiring of recreation camps in the Northern Rivers. Locations include Camp Koinonia, Lake Ainsworth Sport & Recreation Centre and Camp Drew with capacity for up to 270 people and on-site facilities for cooking and hygiene

$150,000 for a housing brokerage service enabling the Australian Red Cross to work with private rental companies, such as Airbnb and Stayz, to help connect people with rental homes

There is $90 million to assist with the clean-up and removal of flood and storm-related damage, debris and green waste for the additional 28 disaster declared LGAs enabling them to work with Resilience NSW and NSW Government agencies to coordinate clean-up activities in their communities

$75,000 primary producer grants extended to all disaster declared LGAs (and therefore not Kyogle)

$50,000 small business and not-for-profit grants extended to all disaster declared LGAs

$1 million grants to additional 28 impacted councils to assist with their immediate social, built, economic and environmental needs.

Anyone seeking emergency accommodation due to the floods can request this through evacuation centres or by calling Service NSW on 13 17 88.