The NSW local government areas of Coffs Harbour, Armidale, Oberon, and Wollondilly have been offered disaster assistance after severe storms and flooding this month.
A tornado hit the city of Armidale on 14 October, toppling trees and power lines in the city and surrounds, destroying cars and buildings. Thousands of homes were also left without power.
On 20 October, severe storms and flooding struck the Coffs Harbour region, causing localised flooding and damage to critical infrastructure and residential properties. The Wollondilly region was hit by heavy rainfall and large hail on 23 October, while Oberon communities were impacted by strong winds and heavy snowfall in August.
The disaster assistance offered to the four LGAs is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), and will also help cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential public assets.
Disaster recovery assistance has also been made available for 10 local government areas in WA’s South-West after heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flooding in July.
The affected local government areas included Augusta-Margaret River, Boddington, Busselton, Corrigin, Dumbleyung, Katanning, Narrogin, Pingelly, Wagin, and West Arthur.
In other disaster funding news, applications are now open for a $2 million heritage grants program to help with the clean-up and restoration of heritage assets in WA damaged by Severe Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
Owners or operators of heritage and Aboriginal cultural heritage places impacted by the cyclone can apply for reimbursement grants of up to $20,000.
Eligibility and application details for the Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-up and Repair Grant Program are available online.
Works must be completed by June 2023 and claims can be lodged until July 2023.