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SENATOR THE HON LINDA REYNOLDS CSC ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS THE HON TROY GRANT MP NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

Friday, 21 December 2018

STORM ASSISTANCE FOR NSW COMMUNITIES

Disaster assistance has been made available for the Hornsby, Liverpool, Central Coast, Waverley, Woollahra, Tamworth, Lithgow and Dubbo Regional Local Government Areas which were affected by the severe storms and flooding that occurred from 20 December onwards.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator the Hon. Linda Reynolds, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said the assistance demonstrated the commitment of the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments to act quickly to help support recovery efforts.

"These storms and floods have caused significant damage to property, motor vehicles and other public infrastructure, with reports of 8cm diameter hailstorms across Sydney," Assistant Minister Reynolds said.

"Disruptions to public transport and widespread electricity outages and road closures resulted in major disruption to communities."

"A range of assistance is available to help affected individuals, small businesses, primary producers and councils recover from the storm."

NSW Minister for Emergency Services the Hon. Troy Grant said a significant and coordinated multi-agency and community response was required.

"The NSW State Emergency Service have deployed more than 120 storm damage teams supported by over 500 volunteers and teams from the NSW State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, and Fire and Rescue NSW," Minister Grant said.

"Over 30,000 lightning strikes were recorded over Sydney during this event as severe thunderstorms passed through the region."

"The funding available through the DRFA will help cover the cost of clean-up and ensure that any damaged public infrastructure can be repaired."

Assistance measures available for those affected by the storms and floods in the Hornsby, Liverpool, Central Coast, Waverley, Woollahra, Tamworth, Lithgow and Dubbo Regional Local Government Areas include:

 assistance to help people who are uninsured, have sustained damage to homes or contents, and meet an assets and income test;

 assistance to help councils in the affected Local Government Areas with the costs associated with cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets;

 concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations;

 freight subsidies for primary producers; and,

 grants to not-for-profit organisations.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au.

Information on disaster assistance available for this natural disaster can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the Emergency NSW website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Nicky Hamer 0466 535 875 (Assistant Minister Reynolds)

Brooke Eggleton 0437 472 455 (Minister Grant)