If recent storms and flooding impacted you or your business, the good news is that disaster assistance has been made available in 56 local government areas across NSW.

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

Federal Member for Page, Kevin Hogan said this severe weather caused major disruption to the community and threatened life and property.

“This was a serious disaster event which caused significant damage to roads, electricity infrastructure, motor vehicles, businesses and residential properties” Mr Hogan said.

“Importantly, a range of practical assistance measures are now available to support the affected communities with their recovery.”

Local assistance is available in the following local government areas: Ballina, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour and Lismore.

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

If you are uninsured and have low income, for information on personal hardship and distress assistance, please 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 http://www.raa.nsw.gov.au

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