Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed news that Federal disaster assistance is being extended to Wingecarribee following fierce storms in August.

The assistance is provided under joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) and has been announced by Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and NSW Deputy Premier, Troy Grant.

Mr Taylor said the funding would reimburse council for clean-up operations.

“This will be welcome support towards the repair bill for damage caused by those storms which council estimates is about $600,000,” Mr Taylor said.

Mr Taylor said the measures available to Wingecarribee included:

*Personal hardship and distress assistance for affected individuals and families;

*Assistance for council for counter disaster operations and for restoring essential public assets;

*Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and voluntary not-for-profit bodies;

*Freight subsidies for primary producers; and

*Grants to voluntary not-for-profit organisations.

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 www.raa.nsw.gov.au.

Caption: Flood damage caused by severe storms across Wingecarribee Shire in August. (Photos supplied by Wingecarribee Shire Council).