BATHURST residents, primary producers and small business owners left out of pocket by flooding across the region earlier this month can now apply for disaster assistance to help pay the bills.
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Local charities and Bathurst Regional Council can also apply for assistance through the jointly funded Commonwealth and state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Member for Calare Andrew Gee said the severe weather event from Tuesday, November 9 caused significant widespread damage across the Bathurst region.
And Bathurst's drenching continued over the weekend with another 20mm recorded by mid-afternoon on Sunday.
Bathurst SES volunteers were busy on Saturday filling sandbags at their headquarters on Lloyds Road and offering them to residents and businesses who wanted to be prepared for more possible flooding.
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"Like many parts of the Central West, the Bathurst region has copped a drenching this month," Mr Gee said.
"More than 120mm has fallen since the start of November [and] the area has already recorded double the average rainfall for November.
"All this rain has wreaked havoc on local infrastructure and homes, with flooding occurring in low-lying parts of the Bathurst region.
"That's why I'm glad disaster assistance is being provided to help Bathurst residents get back on their feet, including grants to replace essential household contents or repair structural damage to homes."
Mr Gee said council would also receive support to cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged public assets.
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
- Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply).
- 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.
- Grants to eligible non-profit organisations.
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.
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