Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Management
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP
The Hon Michael Gallacher MLC
Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council
Minister for Police and Emergency Services
Minister for the Hunter
Joint Media Release
Natural disaster declaration following storms and floods in Northern NSW
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC MP and NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher today extended disaster assistance to five additional Local Government Areas in NSW affected by severe storms and flooding last month.
Natural disaster recovery assistance has been extended to include Gloucester, Great Lakes, Shoalhaven, Upper Hunter and Walcha which were all impacted by the February 19-24 storms and flooding.
This brings the total number of areas included in this Natural Disaster Declaration to twenty-two.
This declaration triggers a number of disaster assistance arrangements to help with the cost of storm relief and recovery, Mr Dreyfus said
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.
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.
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 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.
For emergency assistance during floods and storms call 132 500, or in a life threatening emergency call triple zero (000). For more information visit www.emergency.nsw.gov.au
WEDNESDAY, 13 MARCH 2013
