Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP
NSW Minister for Emergency Services
The Hon Michael Gallacher MP
Joint Media Release
Additional disaster assistance for NSW communities
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC MP and NSW Minister for Emergency Services Michael Gallacher today extended disaster assistance to six additional local government areas affected by last weekends severe storms and flooding in NSW.
Natural disaster recovery assistance has been extended to include Greater Taree, Kyogle, Lismore, Lithgow, Richmond Valley, and Hawkesbury. This brings the total number of areas included in this Natural Disaster Declaration to 17.
This declaration triggers a number of disaster assistance arrangements to help with the cost of storm relief and recovery, Mr Dreyfus said
These disaster assistance schemes are made available by the NSW Government through the NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements and are jointly funded with the Commonwealth Government through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
These measures will help families, business owners, primary producers and local councils to repair damage caused by the severe storms and flooding and ease some of the associated burden, Mr Dreyfus said.
This joint funding will help the regions local communities as they recover, Mr Gallacher said.
Further Local Government Areas (LGAs) may be declared in coming days, as flood waters recede and assessments are completed.
"I would again like to thank the hard working volunteers of the NSW SES and our other emergency services, for their tireless efforts in providing both help and comfort to those suffering," Mr Gallacher said.
Anyone needing help from the SES should contact their local unit on 132 500. In a life threatening emergency, always ring Triple Zero (000).
For more information about disaster assistance visit www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.
MONDAY, 4 MARCH 2013
