After the December 2020 flash flooding tore up Lismore’s roads, the announcement that natural disaster assistance funding was coming was a welcome relief for the local community.

Under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), assistance is now available to flood and storm-affected residents, councils, businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations in the Lismore Local Government Area.

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the biggest benefit of the State and Commonwealth Governments declaring Lismore to be a natural disaster area was that Council could apply for assistance to repair roads, bridges and public infrastructure.

But when it comes to property owners in the local community, what does it mean for them?

“If your property was damaged and water came into the house – not just on the ground outside – talk to me and I will advocate for you,” Ms Saffin said.

Ms Saffin said Lismore’s flash flood was a very serious event and she was happy the government had recognised it and had responded with assistance quickly.

“Lessons have been learnt from major floods in 2017, where the disaster assistance did not meet the need to repair and restore the catastrophic damage to Lismore and

Murwillumbah,” she said.

Other 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.

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

Further information on disaster assistance is available on the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au and on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au