Shoalhaven Utilises Disaster Funding Following Severe Storm
Published on 25 September 2020
With the natural disaster declaration for the Shoalhaven following the East Coast Low and associated severe weather experienced between 8 and 11 August, Shoalhaven City Council is preparing applications for assistance funding through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The funds will help with ongoing clean-up and repairs to infrastructure, with a program of works to be decided upon following consultation with emergency services and residents impacted across the Shoalhaven region.
Shoalhaven City Council’s Mayor Amanda Findley said the Rapid Impact Assessment following the severe storms and floods in early August has resulted in Council preparing applications for $5.92 million in disaster funding.
“The extreme weather in early August caused significant damage to roads and essential public assets, as well as businesses and residential properties,” said Clr Findley.
“All four Districts of the Shoalhaven were impacted by storms, flooding and/or wind. This funding will help cover the costs associated with the operational response and repairing damaged essential infrastructure,” she said.
Clean-up tasks have included the removal of fallen trees and dislodged rocks, as well as remediation of pits, pipes and drains blocked with debris.
The impact to Southern, Basin, Central and Northern districts has required repair to pavements and sealed and unsealed road surfaces with some works in process. Other impacts include culvert displacement in the Southern area, and water damage to some community buildings. In the Northern District new landslips occurred at 16 sites, and two landslip sites in the Central District have resulted in structural damage to road pavements requiring geotechnical investigation and remediation.
In coastal areas damage includes wave erosion of sand, undercutting dune and exposing foreshore protection assets plus erosion of tracks, boardwalks and stairs.
“Council has been working as quickly as possible to resolve erosion and washouts involving structures in Jaspers Brush, Broughton and Kangaroo Valley in order to give residents access as quickly as possible,” said Clr Findley.
“The DRFA funding is a good example of how all three levels of government can work together to help communities recover from a crisis,” she said.
“As well as help for councils with ongoing clean-up and repairs to infrastructure, funding is available to help individuals, small businesses and primary producers to get back on their feet,” said Clr Findley.
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:
- help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
- 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.
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. 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 the NSW emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.