Disaster assistance grants have been announced by state and federal governments before the impact of Cyclone Alfred has been felt.
15 Local Government Areas in Northern NSW are part of the State Government’s Natural Disaster Declaration – they are Richmond Valley, Kyogle, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings and Tweed.
The support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Assistance is provided to eligible residents to meet their immediate needs such as emergency accommodation and essential items generally provided by evacuation or recovery centres.
There are grants for eligible low-income residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain a basic standard of living. And for low-income residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a basic and habitable condition.
Support will be offered to affected local councils for the cost of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets.
The assistance includes concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations and grants to sporting and recreation clubs to repair or replace damaged or destroyed property.
Freight subsidies are available for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said natural disaster declarations are a vital step in unlocking joint assistance so communities can begin the clean-up, rebuilding and recovery process.
“The NSW State Emergency Service and other emergency services along with the NSW Reconstruction Authority are on the ground in Northern NSW, preparing for the impact of the cyclone and working to keep the community safe,” he said.
“For a region already in recovery from the devastating 2022 floods, we understand this latest disaster will be difficult for many people, and we are committed to continuing to support this resilient community through these challenges.”
More information on disaster assistance can be found here.
