Disaster Assistance Following Severe Storms and Flooding Across Our Region

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward MP has today announced that disaster assistance is now available in the Local Government Areas of Kiama, Shoalhaven, Shellharbour and Wollongong following recent severe storms and flooding across our region.

Mr Ward said that assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

“The extreme weather has caused wide spread damage and disruption to local communities,” he said.

NSW SES has received more than 1,500 Requests for Assistance, including more than 40 flood rescues across our State.

“Emergency services have responded to our local communities experiencing significant losses and disruption due to damaging winds and flooding.

“The assistance announced will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets, such as roads.

“I would like to acknowledge and thank our local NSW SES volunteers and other emergency services personnel who have responded to a large number of call outs across the Illawarra and South Coast region,” Mr Ward said.

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 please visit the website at: 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.