Immediate disaster assistance now available for flood affected individuals and councils

Wednesday, 2 March 2022

Individuals and councils impacted by the flood events unfolding in NSW can now access the first tranche of NSW Government support through Service NSW.

Since February 22, 17 Local Government Areas have been declared as disaster areas.

The first round of immediate support is now available to assist as some areas start their recovery.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said Service NSW was ready to support anyone needing flood assistance.

“The scale of these floods is unprecedented and right now, we are still in emergency and response mode. This is the immediate assistance available that has been unlocked by the NSW Government as part of the disaster declarations,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This is the start of our support measures and there will be more announced in the coming days.”

Seventeen local government areas (LGAs) have been declared as disaster areas and are eligible for support through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

These areas are: Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Glen Innes Severn, Hornsby, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Richmond, Tenterfield, The Hills and Tweed.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello encouraged people in need of help to contact Service NSW straight away.

“The phone lines are staffed, and the information is available – please call 13 77 88 if you need help to find the support you require and assistance you can access,” Mr Dominello said.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the danger is far from over for many communities across NSW.

“While we are still in the emergency phase, recovery is a process that must start as soon as it possibly can,” Ms Cooke said.

“The provision of this assistance will ensure we can get people and communities back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

Through www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-assistance the following assistance is now available for those impacted by the floods:

Individuals

·         A Disaster Relief Grant – to assist low income earners faced with disaster           hardship who have suffered damage to the structure or contents of their             home.

·         Personal and financial counselling.

·         Assistance finding temporary housing for those who have been forced                  from their homes.

Small business, primary production and not-for profit organisation support

·         Small business and primary producers concessional loans of up to                          $130,000

·         Concessional interest rate loans for not-for-profits

·         Freight subsidies of up to 50 per cent for primary producers

Councils

·         Assistance with operational costs and the restoration of essential public                 assets.

Additionally, residents may be eligible for the Commonwealth Government’s Disaster Recovery Payment, a one-off, non-means tests payment of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children who have been seriously injured, lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged, or the immediate family members of a person who has lost their life, as a direct result of the storms and floods.

Disaster Recovery Allowances are also available through the Federal Government via Services Australia at servicesaustralia.gov.au 

Service NSW customer care specialists are also able to connect flood-affected customers with services and support information, including:

·         Access to emergency accommodation;

·         Relevant charitable services;

·         Mental health and wellbeing services;

·         Financial assistance;

·         Insurance and legal advice; and

·         Replacing lost ID.

For assistance please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online via service.nsw.gov.au and via www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-assistance

For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500. In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.