Port Stephens finally declared a 'natural disaster' area after heavy rain, floods

The Port was on March 18 added to the list of LGAs to be declared a natural disaster area, one week after the declaration was made for the neighbouring Maitland and Cessnock council areas.

There are now a total of 58 LGAs in NSW eligible for assistance, including Port Stephens.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the natural disaster declaration means that funding and support would be available to people whose homes or essential household items had been destroyed or damaged, and for business owners and primary producers who have suffered direct damage.

"Assistance is also available to Port Stephens Council to restore essential public assets like local roads."

A council spokesperson said at this stage as assessments were still taking place.

"It is likely that the council will be seeking funding to assist in repairing damage to the road network around Raymond Terrace, Seaham, Hinton and surrounding areas. We will be communicating with impacted residents to advise them of any specific grants that may be available once we have all the details."

EARLIER STORY: Call for disaster declaration on 'our side of the river'

Mr Martin has urged Port home and business owners, and primary producers who may have suffered direct damage from flooding or severe weather since February 22 to apply for the funding and support now on offer.

He said that assistance was being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Assistance available under the DRFA for Port Stephens may include help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply); 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; and freight subsidies for primary producers.

The Port Stephens declaration was announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the same day that the Commonwealth and NSW governments announced a further $742 million would be provided to support primary industry, businesses, rural landholders, councils and residents affected by the catastrophic flooding.

This is in addition to the almost $1 billion in emergency response and relief already provided through joint funding packages between the Commonwealth and NSW governments.

"This support package gets money in the hands of our small and medium-sized businesses and our farmers so they can rebuild and support the whole community to recover together," he said.

Acting NSW Premier Paul Toole said that regional communities needed the right support to rebuild and bounce back stronger than ever.

"These regional communities provide vital resources for a huge part of the NSW population, so it's critical money lands in the hands of local residents, our farmers, and business owners impacted by the floods to help keep the engine room of our state moving," Mr Toole said.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the government was committed to providing support to the many families, businesses and communities that have been so severely affected by these terrible floods.

"Many of these communities have been hit by a full spectrum of disasters these past two years. Now as the clean-up continues in earnest, this package will deliver support for their immediate recovery," Mr Kean said.

People in Port Stephens requiring disaster recovery support are urged to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or nsw.gov.au/floods.

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