Cessnock, Dungog, Singleton and the Upper Hunter councils were among nine more local government areas declared natural disaster zones at the weekend because of the extreme storms that battered the state through last weekend.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
State and federal governments say the move will free up essential disaster recovery funding to help storm-hit communities in the region recover.
After initially being left off the list of LGAs in line for support in the immediate aftermath of the storms, which lashed the region for days from Wednesday, January 15, Lake Macquarie and the Mid Coast councils were similarly in line for support.
The federal government's Emergency Management Minister, Jenny McAllister, and NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib announced the extended support on Saturday afternoon, January 25, a little more than a week after the weather hit as extensive clean-up operations continued about the region.
These new disaster measures are in addition to the support for Maitland, Port Stephens, and Snowy Valleys LGAs announced on January 18.
The City of Newcastle, not included in the support announcement, had spent days digging beachside roads out from beneath hundreds of tonnes of sand after strong winds sent vast dunes up over the headlands in a once-in-a-decade event.
Lumps of sand all but buried the steps to Newcastle beach, and the city's iconic Ocean Baths were inundated as dozens of volunteers turned up in the storms' wake to help clean up.
Port Stephens, one of the first areas to receive higher government support, was the hardest hit. Residents languished for days in the dark after widespread and rolling blackouts brought down appliances and the telecommunications network throughout the region.
"This assistance will ensure more communities can access essential supplies and accommodation and ensure more councils can clean up and restore assets as soon as possible," Ms McAlister said on Saturday.
The declaration is expected to free up support for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation and provide grants for low-income and uninsured residents to replace lost and essential household items.
Local councils, too, will come in line for support with the costs of clean-up operations, community safety works and restoring damaged public assets.
Small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations will be eligible for concessional interest rate loans, and sports clubs will have access to grants to repair or replace storm-damaged property.
"We rely on councils submitting impact assessment forms to extend this relief and I thank them for continuing to work constructively with the NSW Reconstruction Authority," Mr Dib said.
"There have been a high number of calls to the NSW SES, and I would like to thank our incredible volunteers and emergency responders who responded to these incidents and provided vital support for the community."
Sydney's Blacktown, Hawkesbury, and Northern Beaches councils were similarly included in the weekend's declaration.
More information on disaster assistance can be found via the government's website.
