A state of natural disaster has been declared for the Mid-Western Regional Council Local Government Area (LGA) following the bush fires that commenced 6 March 2023.
Member for the Dubbo electorate Dugald Saunders said the natural disaster declaration was an important first step in offering support for local communities under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, which are jointly funded by the NSW Government and Commonwealth Government.
“This means assistance is available to vulnerable people whose homes or essential household items have been destroyed or damaged, and for business owners and primary producers who have suffered direct damage,” Mr Saunders said.
“Assistance is also available to Mid-Western Regional Council to restore essential public assets like local roads.
“I am urging any local homeowner, business owner or primary producer that have suffered direct damage from the fires to investigate what support might be available to them.”
Under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the Mid-Western Regional Council LGA, assistance available may include:
- Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply);
- Support for 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; and
- Freight subsidies for primary producers.
For more information, go to https://www.nsw.gov.au/disaster-recovery/natural-disaster-declarations and https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/declarations.