“We will rebuild Lismore” was the message given by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet when he visited Lismore today to announce new Back to Home Grants for flood-damaged properties.

As he toured a city that has been flooded twice in a month, the Premier said the grants are to help people get back into their homes by contributing towards the cost of replacing appliances, reconnecting utilities and making necessary repairs.

Read the earlier story: Back To Home $20,000 grant released

While the grants have not yet officially opened for applications, Mr Perrottet clarified who is eligible to apply and what the money can be used for.

 “Under the Back Home grant scheme, households that have been declared as damaged or destroyed and are unable to claim on insurance or natural disaster relief will be eligible for up to $20,000 cash grants,” he said.

Not means tested

Unlike the Disaster Relief Grants administered by Resilience NSW (of up to $50K), the Premier said these grants are not ‘means tested’.

“This gives an opportunity for every person - regardless of their income - to access help,” he said.

“I don’t want anyone left behind.

“If you have received the federal government $3,000 Centrelink payment, you qualify for this payment as well.

“If you are owner occupier, you can get up to $20K. If you are in a landlord/tenant relationship, the landlord can receive up to $15K and the renter can get up to $5K in support.

Priority

“Our overriding priority is to get people into safe housing, and we are looking at every possible avenue to do that,” Mr Perrottet said.

“For those people who have properties or homes that can be repaired, this grant can be the cash that they need to make urgent repairs such as fixing roofs, making properties watertight, connecting back to electricity and replacing furniture and fridges.”

 “Getting people back to work and businesses back open again - as well as rebuilding homes - is a massive challenge and I’m confident that we will get it done.

“It’s absolutely devastating and as the flood water subsides, we will be here to support you.”

Flood inquiry submissions open

The Premier also said submissions to the enquiry into the February flood also opened today and it was intrinsically “connected to the response and rebuild of Lismore”.

What can you use the grants for?

The new grant funds can be used towards any clean-up costs to restore housing to a habitable condition. Some of these costs are:

• Inspection and safe reconnection of utilities, such as electrical, gas, water, hot water and sewerage equipment not otherwise the responsibility of utility companies;
• Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged essential household goods such as refrigerators, ovens, washing machines and microwaves;
• Necessary replacement or repairs to damaged equipment such as computers and tools;
• Making necessary structural repairs including roof, flooring, walls, fittings (owner-occupier/owner).

When will the grants open?

The Premier expects the grants to open for applications in the “coming weeks”.

He said he wants to the money be made available “as soon as possible” to local communities.

Unlike the lengthy waits experienced by some people applying for grants with Resilience NSW, he said the process would be “more streamlined through the Service NSW online application process.”

“We have learned from what’s already happened and we are here to do what’s right and if mistakes have been made - to improve them,” he said.

He also acknowledged that more work was needed on small business grants.

Apply for a grant

The government is investing $112 million in the Back Home grants, which are available across the Hawkesbury, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore,

Richmond Valley and Tweed Local Government Areas.

The grants will go live in the coming weeks. Applicants can register to be notified via www.nsw.gov.au/floods.

The Back Home grants are in addition to a series of other clean-up programs and work under way. 

Waste levies have been waived for flood-affected local government areas, about 17,000 truckloads of waste have been removed, and free structural assessments are being conducted under the Property Assessment and Demolition (PAD) program.

Grant Eligibility:

Eligible owner-occupiers and landlords will receive up to $15,000 through the Back Home grant program, to repair and refit damaged homes;

An additional payment of up to $5,000 per property can be accessed for the replacement of essential household items. This is only available to renters and owner/occupiers;

A maximum of $20,000 will be available for any one property;

Those who have received the means tested Disaster Relief Grant are not eligible for this package;

The property must be assessed as damaged, destroyed or uninhabitable by the SES.

The owner or renter must be uninsured or unable to claim insurance.