Dominic Perrottet unveiled the new Back Home Scheme earlier this month, which could see New South Wales flood victims receive up to $20,000 in funds if their homes were damaged or destroyed.
The program will be open to people in the Northern Rivers areas of Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Clarence valley, Richmond Valley, Hawkesbury and Tweed Local Government Areas. For more information of your eligibility please visit the website: www.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-support
Funds can go to things like cleaning costs, structural repair, reconnecting essential services, replacement of white goods, furniture and to support the cost of moving to another property.
The NSW premiere had said: “Our top priority is to get people into safe housing, and we are looking at every possible avenue to do that”.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole had said: “These grants will be delivered to the people who need it fast – we have lifted the red tape to ensure the money is delivered and homes can be repaired as quickly as possible,”.
Properties must be assessed and considered damaged, destroyed or uninhabitable. The owner or tenant must not be insured or unable to claim insurance, if flood victims have already received the disaster relief grant, they are not eligible.
It was good news to learn that the bureaucratic burden has been lifted for those applying for these grants, but when it comes to many, it will take time to apply. Many people have lost their identity documents and papers such as rates notices and bills that will take time to get back.
This week, I will be back in the communities to get progress reports from people, it would be interesting to see how many people found the process easier than the initial grants, many of which were rejecte
