The NSW communities in the Kempsey, Tenterfield, and Lower Hunter area affected by the November 05, 2016 bushfires will have access to disaster assistance to aid them in their recovery.

The assistance, provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), will support seven local government areas impacted by the bushfires, said Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and NSW minister for emergency services Troy Grant.

“The Australian and New South Wales governments are committed to working together to ensure disaster affected communities receive the necessary support to help them recover,” Keenan said.

Grant added: “Assistance is now available in Cessnock, Dungog, Kempsey, Maitland, Mid Coast, Tenterfield, and Port Stephens to help these communities with the cost of recovery.”

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The NDRRA assistance may include the following:

• Personal hardship and distress assistance to help families and individuals with their emergency needs;
• Financial assistance to help local and state government authorities undertake counter-disaster operations and to restore damaged public infrastructure;
• Concessional interest rate loans for directly impacted small businesses, primary producers, and not-for-profit organisations;
• Freight subsidies for primary producers; and
• Grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

For more information on the available disaster assistance, visit the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website and the New South Wales emergency information and response website.


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