Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor today welcomed disaster assistance for the Hilltops Council in response to recent heavy rainfall that is causing widespread flooding throughout the region.

“The funding announced today will assist the Hilltops Council in ensuring it has the resources and support needed to recover from the impacts of flooding that occurred after August 30,” Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said that after the high rainfall seen throughout September; this disaster funding will come as a helping hand to the Hilltops Council and land and home owners who have been affected by flooding.

“Earlier this month a number of residents from the Boorowa area were evacuated from their homes, many livestock perished and the Boorowa River has peaked a number of times over the past few weeks,” Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said assistance has been made available under the jointly funded Commonwealth –State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery (NDRRA) arrangements, which includes:

• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged;
• Support for affected local councils to assist with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets;
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profit organisations; 
• Freight subsidies for primary producers; and
• Grants to not-for-profit organisations.

“Heavy rainfall and flooding has had a devastating impact on roads and infrastructure across the region, as well as on farmers struggling with stock and crop losses. This disaster relief funding will go towards helping them get back on their feet,” Mr Taylor said.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, please contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444. To apply for a concessional loan, grant or freight subsidy, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit raa.nsw.gov.au.

Information on the assistance available in response to this disaster is available at disasterassist.gov.au and emergency.nsw.gov.au.