A $15 million Community Recovery Support Fund, jointly funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments, is now available to NSW councils and their communities following the impacts of the Cyclone Alfred weather event.
Activated councils will have up to $1 million in funding made available once impacts are known. This will provide proactive support for communities to undertake essential immediate clean up and restoration activities for important community assets such as pre-schools, senior citizen centres, libraries and community halls.
Support has been made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The NSW Government is coordinating a multi-agency response to the cyclone, which has been forecast to significantly impact Northern NSW and Southern Queensland.
The currently weather modelling suggests that these 15 NSW Local Government Areas (LGAs) will sustain the most immediate impact of the cyclone,
The Commonwealth Government is working closely with both the New South Wales and Queensland Governments to ensure appropriate support is provided to impacted communities over the coming days.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
"Northern NSW residents, and their neighbours to the north, are on high alert watching Tropical Cyclone Alfred approach.
"We are providing assistance now, but also have this future support on standby, ready to roll should recovery and cleanup work be needed in the immediate aftermath.
"Having this support ready to go means, if needed, essential work can begin and people's lives can begin to return to normal as soon as possible."
Quotes attributable Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister:
"It's a challenging time for communities in the Northern Rivers, who are experiencing the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
"Having grown up in the Northern Rivers, I know these communities well. I am acutely aware of how worrying this event will be for local people.
"I've been incredibly grateful for the work of the local mayors, Councils and community leaders, supporting their communities.
"We are activating this assistance quickly to ensure councils are supported in their work.
"We seek to be good partners to Premier Minns and his government, through the immediate event and into the recovery".
Quotes attributable to Premier Chris Minns:
"This is a pre-emptive step to help local councils quickly respond to this disaster.
"Councils are helping their communities prepare for the onslaught, and this will help them in the aftermath.
"This is just one early part of the support for the regions that get impacted by this disaster."
Quotes attributable to New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib:
"The NSW Government with the support of the Commonwealth is continuing to roll out support for the Northern NSW communities facing the impacts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
"This funding will be directed to councils in the local communities who need it most, with many of them still recovering after the devastating 2022 floods.
"The NSW Government is committed to providing ongoing support to the communities impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred in the days and weeks ahead."
