Flood watch: Disaster funding to be available to Shoalhaven residents as storms ease

The Shoalhaven has been declared a natural disaster area with emergency funding to be made available to residents in the wake of criticism of the state government’s response from Kiama MP Gareth Ward.

Wollongong and the Shoalhaven are among 23 local government areas declared natural disaster areas by the state government on Tuesday, as a damaging east coast low that caused landslides and flooding across the region begins to subside.

Kiama and the Shellharbour area were also among the LGAs that will now be eligible for emergency funding through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), alongside hard hit south and southwest Sydney suburbs, including Bankstown and Penrith.

Assistance available under the DRFA includes help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged and support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged roads and essential public assets.

Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, said the flooding had led to a large number of evacuations throughout NSW, with major flood operations still ongoing.

“We have seen some of these impacted communities being hit by floods for a third and fourth time in 18 months,” Mr Watt said.

“(That) is extremely distressing to the residents of these communities.”

Gareth Ward MP spoke with residents in Kangaroo Valley who had been affected by floods. Picture: Tim Hunter

The announcement comes after heavy criticism from independent Kiama MP Gareth Ward, who called on the NSW Government to open up support for residents in storm-impacted areas such as Kangaroo Valley, who he said were fed up after yet another round of damaging storm events.

“You can understand why people in Kangaroo Valley are frustrated,” Mr Ward said.

“They had a really close shave with the Black Summer bushfires, and the length of time that flooding has impacted them because of the closure of key roads has been profound.

“If you’re a business on the North Coast, you’re entitled to $50,000, and for those businesses in the Valley to not be eligible, that would really rub salt in the wound.”

In March, landslides caused by heavy rains from an east coast low closed main arterial roads into Kangaroo Valley roads, severing all connection between the town and the region.

Businesses suffered a stark lack of clientele as a result, while residents and workers were forced to drive hours in the weeks and months after the closure to reach nearby Bowral.

On Monday, the recently-opened Moss Vale route had already been closed by a fallen tree.

Mr Ward said the threat of renewed isolation had impacted on residents‘ mental health.

“They’re going through it all again,” he said.

“Disaster declarations trigger a range of extra support programs, including mental health, which is really critical at the moment.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small business owner who was really excited about the opening of the mountain pass, or a farmer that’s contending with foot rot.”

Laurels BnB owner and president of the local business chamber, Lindy Pitt, was hopeful that the current crisis would be resolved quickly, and was hopeful for the future.

“Many of the roads in and around Kangaroo Valley have been opening and closing with great frequency, even Barrengarry Mt,” she said.

“However, once this weather event passes, Kangaroo Valley businesses are very enthusiastic to get on with life: upwards and onwards.

“We appreciate all the support and encouragement we have been given, and we are very keen to welcome visitors into our dear little valley once again.”

With the worst of the most recent storm event seemingly over, Mr Ward said it was time the State Government looked at longer-term solutions for infrastructure crises in the Shoalhaven.

“If you look overseas, older road designs are not unique,” he said.

“But, what a lot of countries have done is safeguard communities by installing infrastructure, such as steel meshing or upgrading roads and bridges.

“So, when these events do happen, we don’t see roads closed and communities devastated for months on end.”