Flood disaster funding announced for Tweed, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle

Additional disaster payments have been announced for flood-affected Northern Rivers residents after the government copped backlash for leaving them out.

Page MP Kevin Hogan chats to flood-affected residents.

The federal government will give flood-affected Tweed, Byron, Ballina and Kyogle shire residents two weekly disaster payments after copping backlash for leaving them out.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced two additional disaster payments of $1000 for Lismore, Richmond Valley and Clarence Valley shires during a visit to Lismore a little more than a week ago.

At the time flood devastated residents in Ballina, Byron and the Tweed shires criticised the move to exclude their areas from the additional support.

The Murwillumbah CBD was covered in flood water on February 28. Picture: Geoffwhite.photography

The extension to the disaster payments was announced on Thursday afternoon by Page MP Kevin Hogan and Government Services Minister Linda Reynolds.

Two additional payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child will be deposited automatically to people who have already applied for the government’s disaster recovery payment.

Ms Reynolds said the additional payments would take immediate pressure off many families and allow them to focus on recovering from the disaster.

Liberal senator Linda Reynolds.

“The catastrophic scale and impact of what we’re seeing in this region of northern NSW is exactly why this extra support is needed,” she said.

National Recovery and Resilience Minister Senator Bridget McKenzie said the National Recovery and Resilience Agency had undertaken assessments of the affected areas.

“As the full scale and impact to these areas in northern NSW is being realised, the Liberal and Nationals Government is implementing this extra support as quickly as possible,” Ms McKenzie said.

“While people in northern NSW aren’t able to work, are still clearing out their homes and businesses, the extra two $1000 payments we’re rolling out to eligible families and individuals will support our communities as they start to rebuild their lives.”

 Click here to apply for funding.