Lismore is one of 18 local government areas affected by flooding and other damage caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Photo: ADF.
Residents in NSW affected by flooding from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred will be eligible for financial assistance from 12 March.
In a joint statement, the Federal and NSW governments will release emergency financial assistance in a jointly-funded package which will provide emergency financial assistance of $180 for individuals or up to $900 for families to cover initial essential costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation.
To be eligible for the grant, individuals must reside in one of the declared affected local government areas, including Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glenn Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Lord Howe Island, MidCoast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley, Tenterfield and Tweed.
Individuals must also have been subject to category red emergency warning evacuation orders, or experienced power outages of more than 48 hours, and must be able to demonstrate they have suffered hardship as a result of the disaster and unable to meet immediate needs.
Impacted community members are to visit NSW Government Recovery Assistance Points which will be operating in key locations from the end of this week and are listed here. Applications for assistance will open on Wednesday 12 March and will be open until 8 April.
In addition to the individual funding, the Federal Government has activated the Disaster Recovery Allowance for communities that have been directly affected.
This allowance offers up to 13 weeks of income support for eligible workers and sole traders who have suffered a loss of income as a direct result of the event. Details on the Disaster Recovery Allowance are available on the Services Australia website.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Federal and State governments were working together to get money out the door as quickly as possible.
“My message to those affected is my government has got your back,” he said.
Premier Chris Minns said it had been tough going for the communities impacted by Alfred.
“In particular those families who have been without power for days or required to leave their homes under evacuation orders have faced huge challenges,” he said.
“We know these communities are concerned about the cost of restocking the fridge or replacing damaged goods.
“This payment will go a bit of the way to providing some immediate relief for hardship experienced.”
Federal Minister for Emergency Services Jenny McAllister said the payments would help provide some immediate assistance after a very tough week for Northern NSW.
“We’re acting quickly to make financial assistance for impacted individuals and families available,” she said. “We know recovery will take some time, but we are here for the long haul.”
