‘Heartbreaking’: Hundreds of flood-affected residents deemed ineligible for support

Hundreds of flood-affected residents on the mid-north coast have been unable to access personal hardship grants nearly one month later because the NSW government has deemed them ineligible.

Hundreds of flood-affected residents on the mid-north coast have been unable to access personal hardship grants nearly one month after the record-breaking natural disaster, because the NSW government has deemed them ineligible for assistance.

Many residents whose properties had been isolated and inundated with floodwater, have been told by Service NSW that they are unable to access any financial assistance to help rebuild due to being in the wrong postcode.

On Tuesday, the Minns government quietly added some additional suburbs to the list of areas able to access funding, despite there only being one week left before the window to apply for the personal hardships grants expires on June 26.

It is understood the government is considering extending this deadline.

The Daily Telegraph spoke with multiple residents, who had incurred tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage but were deemed ineligible to collect the basic $180 of hardship assistance.

Mick Godfrey’s Clarence Town property was not eligible for any financial assistance because apparently he did not live in a flood-affected area. Picture: Supplied

This comes after this masthead revealed a fortnight ago that the Minns government had yet to request additional Category D flood recovery funding from the Albanese government to help primary producers and small businesses who had lost everything. Additional Category D funding was immediately offered after floods in 2021 and 2022, allowing affected primary producers grants of up to $75,000.

Mick Godfrey’s home was totally encircled, with rising floodwaters lapping just metres from his front door. Picture: Supplied,

Mr Godfrey estimated he lost $10,000 in wages due to being isolated by the flooding. Picture: Supplied

One month after the catastrophic floods, the government has still failed to request the funding, leaving businesses and farms on the mid north coast at risk of collapse.

During the May floods, Mick Godfrey’s home was totally encircled, with rising floodwaters lapping just metres from his front door. The 57-year-old’s shed and most of his property were inundated, yet he was deemed to be ineligible for flood recovery support.

Working as a local electrician in Clarence Town near Maitland, Mr Godfrey estimated he lost $10,000 in wages due to being isolated.

“I tried for the Services NSW disaster grant but was told the Clarence Town postcode is not eligible,” he said

“The government hyped up the disaster relief saying everyone affected can access it, but we can’t … they say one thing and mean another.”

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during a visit to the flood affected town of Maitland. Picture: AAP Image/Renee Moore

Turf farmer Emma Hill, 38, has had her business near Maitland completely decimated, losing $980,000 worth of turf to floodwaters. Despite the massive loss, Ms Hill and her young family are deemed not to live in an eligible area for the $180 personal hardship payments.

As a primary producer she is eligible for a $25,000 Category C grant, which requires farmers to pay $20,000 out of pocket and claim it back later. Ms Hill said she does not have $20,000 in the bank to spend.

“I’m looking at having to get another job just to pay for groceries,” she said.

“We have put everything we had into building this farm … I don’t know what we’ll do.”

Leader of the Nationals Dugald Saunders said it was “heartbreaking” that hundreds of flood-affected residents still had no support. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said it is “heartbreaking” that residents in dozens of flood-affected areas still have no help.

“Residents, businesses, and primary producers are feeling completely neglected right now because the Minns and Albanese Governments are not using their own resources to properly identify those who have been affected,” he said.

A NSW government spokesperson said they were still “working on further options” to support flood-affected communities and that new suburbs were being added “as assessments continue”.

“The selection of suburbs and localities is based on emergency services data and impact assessments,” the spokesperson said.

“The criteria looks at impacts by suburb, instead of by impacts to individual properties or businesses.”

Originally published as ‘Heartbreaking’: Hundreds of flood-affected residents deemed ineligible for support