Assistance is now available to residents, primary producers, and businesses in seven NSW LGAs affected by bushfires since 15 October. Photo: Lisa Herbert.
The federal and NSW state governments have joined forces to offer assistance to residents, primary producers and businesses affected by recent bushfires in the Inverell, Kyogle, Tenterfield, Kempsey, Mid-Western, Mid-Coast and Port Macquarie Hastings local government areas (LGA).
Through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), assistance has been activated for these areas affected by fires that have raged since 13 October.
Assistance available may include help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged, support for 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, and freight subsidies for primary producers.
“The Australian Government is supporting impacted communities with this early assistance, so recovery can begin as soon as possible for those directly affected,” Federal Minister for Emergency Management Senator Murray Watt said.
“While we move quickly to activate this early assistance, we also continue to work alongside the NSW Government to collect information and fully understand the impact of these fires.”
NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said bushfire-impacted communities, landowners, farmers, and primary producers will be supported in their clean-up and recovery.
“The NSW Government is committed to seeing communities get back on their feet as quickly as possible, which is why we’ve worked swiftly to make sure directly impacted people can access this funding and start their recovery,” he said.
“We remain dedicated to NSW communities in the face of hazards and will be there long before a disaster strikes and long after the disaster has passed.”
Residents and business owners in these LGAs seeking financial assistance, help in replacing lost documents, or the location of your nearest recovery centre should contact Service NSW on 137 788 or visit 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
