STATE and Federal governments are delivering more funding to help communities recover from the recent severe flooding.
Support available includes:
● Grants of up to $25,000 for eligible small businesses (with fewer than 20 employees) and non-profit organisations to help clean up and restore their business.
● Grants of up to $25,000 for eligible primary producers directly impacted by flooding to help with clean-up and getting their operations back on track.
● Grants of up to $10,000 for eligible rural landholders to assist with clean-up, repairs and recovery work, including fixing damaged fences, infrastructure or equipment affected by East Coast severe weather and flooding.
● A $5 million program to clear drainage on private land following Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
● A $180 hardship payment for individuals, capped at $900 for households of five or more, to help cover essential items like food, clothing and medicine following the recent flood event.
Flood impacted farmers and primary producers are being asked to complete the NSW Government’s Primary Industries Natural Disaster Damage Assessment (PiNDDA) survey, once it is safe for them to do so, which will inform future recovery.
Premier Minns said he was aware that more support for primary producers would be required.
“In line with the response to the recent floods in Queensland, we will need further assistance for many primary producers on the Mid North Coast,” he said.
“In the coming week I’ll be working with the Commonwealth Government to extend grants up to $75,000 in harder hit areas so that we can work with coastal communities to get back on their feet.”
Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan said the funding announcement was a “start and a positive move in the right direction”.
“I know that this is not the full amount that we were hoping for and I will keep working with our local Mayors and State MPs to get this increased to the maximum threshold of $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small businesses.”
Newly elected Member for Lyne Alison Penfold however, was less impressed, labelling the funding “simply not good enough”.
“How could they not assess the disaster as requiring the same response and level of support provided to Lismore in 2022 where payments of $75,000 were provided straight up, rather than in increments?
“Farmers across the region are facing individual losses of well over $1 million and the impact on the dairy industry is so significant it will have economic implications for Australia.
“Small business owners and operators are a long way from refitting offices, replacing IT equipment or stock, let alone keeping their staff employed.
“I can’t even describe the situation for residents who have lost everything. What will $25,000 get them?”
