HON CATHERINE KING MP

ACTING FEDERAL MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

DAN REPACHOLI MP

FEDERAL MEMBER FOR HUNTER

NEW SOUTH WALES DEPUTY PREMIER

MINISTER FOR REGIONAL NSW

NEW SOUTH WALES MINISTER FOR POLICE

18 January 2023

$70 MILLION FOR FLOOD-DAMAGED COMMUNITY ASSETS IN NSW

Additional funding is now available to help repair community infrastructure damaged by the floods in February and June last year.

Under the $70 million Community Assets Program, councils can apply for funding to repair parks, playgrounds, walkways, places of cultural heritage, and other community assets like libraries, pedestrian bridges and community-based pre-schools. 

The program, jointly funded by the Federal and New South Wales Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), will target the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Camden, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes Severn, Hawkesbury, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Narromine, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Tenterfield, and Tweed.

Acting Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Catherine King, said while all NSW disaster-declared LGAs from the February and June 2022 events are eligible, funding would be targeted to those councils  that had experienced the greatest damage.

“The floods last year were significant, and nearly a year on, we understand there is still work to be done to fully restore communities to the way they were before,” Minister King said.

“Parks and playgrounds in particular are often important community hubs that bring people together.

“The Albanese Government continues to work with all levels of government to make sure that support continues to be extended.”

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said this funding would help councils restore some of the community infrastructure that remained damaged by flooding in 2022.

“The Community Assets Program is not just building back for now – we’re building back better for the future by improving the resilience of these essential assets.

“This package, part of more than $3.5 billion we have committed to support communities affected by floods in 2022, builds on the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s response to the Independent Flood Inquiry, which ensures emergency services are better equipped to respond to future disaster events and support impacted communities during recovery.

“I encourage eligible councils to make the most of this opportunity to help their communities bounce back better and stronger than ever.”

Federal Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi MP, said the Hunter electorate was hit hard by the floods in 2022 and the Community Assets Program would allow Councils to receive funding for the restoration of important community assets.

"As we can see, the Singleton Netball Association Netball Courts have been destroyed by flooding over the last year and are in desperate need of repair.

"The Community Assets Program will allow Singleton, Cessnock and Muswellbrook Councils to apply for much needed funds to restore sporting facilities, parks, playgrounds and walkways so that the local community can get back to playing sport and utilising these local assets.

Applications for the Community Asset Program will open Friday 20 January 2023. More information will be available at: www.nsw.gov.au/2022CLIRP.

Eligible LGAs: Councils from non-targeted LGAs that were disaster declared under AGRN 1012 and/or AGRN 1025 in 2022 may be considered for funding if they can demonstrate need and support for a project in their community with robust alignment to the program criteria.