On eve of major flood evacuations, Hawkesbury gets State Disaster Recovery Funding assistance

Disaster recovery assistance has been extended to Hawkesbury City Council, due to the severe storms and floods battering the area.

Major evacuations are set to begin tomorrow – Monday – in low lying areas of the Hawkesbury with Windsor CBD residents told this evening they may need to leave by 9am Monday.

There have already been evacuations of some low lying areas impacted early by flood waters.

The assistance will come in the form of:

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

Senator for New South Wales, the Hon Marise Payne, said the storms and floods have wreaked havoc across New South Wales, with more rain on the way.

“Heavy rainfall and flooding associated with this significant weather event has cut off roads, wiped out bridges and caused widespread property damage throughout the region,” Senator Payne said.

Assistance will be provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

“The DRFA assistance announced today [Sunday, 21 March 2021] will help people get back on their feet and ensure the Hawkesbury community can cover the costs associated with the clean-up and repairs to infrastructure.”

“Just as with the 2019-20 bushfires, the Australian Government will work with Hawkesbury City Council on the road to recovery.”

New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said communities experienced significant disruption due to heavy rainfall and flooding over several days, including damage to and closure of roads and schools.

“As NSW continues to deal with this serious weather event, today’s announcement will help reassure those already affected that there is assistance available to cover the costs associated with the operational response and support households, small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profit organisations and councils as they continue to repair the damaged,” Minister Elliott said.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88. 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 Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and Service NSW at disasterassistance.service.nsw.gov.au