This week, a number of towns and cities along the east coast of Australia have battled devastating floods.

The Moree Shire was among those affected, with water levels peaking on the morning of Thursday 24 March.

With rains easing and water beginning to clear, efforts are underway to begin the clean up.

On Wednesday, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall announced disaster recovery assistance is being made available to those in the Moree Plains, Inverell and Gwydir Shire Council areas.

Those impacted by severe storms and floods from 10 March onwards are eligible for the jointly funded assistance, thanks to Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Joining residents and emergency crews in the area as they battle floods this week, Mr Marshall said “this announcement will help reassure those already affected that there is assistance available to cover the costs associated with responding to the disaster”.

“Assistance is available for the operational response and to support households, small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and councils as they continue to repair the damaged assets and essential public assets, such as roads,” he said.

Mr Marshall encourages anyone seeking support to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

  • help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged,
  • support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets,
  • concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations,
  • freight subsidies for primary producers, and
  • grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit the website.

Further information on disaster support is available on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website and the Service NSW website.

For the time being, Mr Marshall encourages residents to stay safe, reiterating the message “if it’s flooded, forget it.”

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