Disaster assistance is available to communities affected by the Currandooley fire which wiped out more than 3400 hectares south of Goulburn in January this year.

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor has confirmed that assistance is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Goulburn Mulwaree and Queanbeyan-Palerang local government areas would receive support under the NDRRA as part of Wednesday’s (March 8) announcement.

“It was a sobering experience talking to Tarago district landholders devastated by this fire which struck at the height of the January heatwave,” Mr Taylor said.

“I saw the destruction myself. Hectares upon hectares of charred paddocks, hundreds of dead sheep and cattle, and kilometres of destroyed fencing.

“I am pleased that the Federal and New South Wales governments are committed to working together to ensure eligible farmers and communities in the Tarago district receive the support they need to recover as quickly as possible.”

Assistance available under the NDRRA may include:

• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
• Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
• Freight subsidies for primary producers
• 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, grant or freight subsidy, 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 www.disasterassist.gov.au and the New South Wales emergency information and response website at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.