Disaster assistance extended for NT communities after Cyclone Megan

More places in the Territory can now access funding to recover from the impacts of severe weather, including Alice Springs and the Barkly. Here’s how.

More communities in the Northern Territory can now access government funding to aid recovery efforts following the impacts of Cyclone Megan and related severe weather last month.

Disaster assistance is being extended to the Alice Springs, Barkly, Central Desert, MacDonnell and Victoria Daly Local Government Areas for repair of public assets.

This is in addition to assistance, including for individuals, already available in East Arnhem, Roper Gulf, and West Arnhem regions in response to Cyclone Megan.

The assistance is funded by the federal and Territory governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, and will support the NT government and local councils with the costs of restoring or repairing eligible essential public assets or infrastructure damaged as a direct result of a disaster.

It also covers emergency and immediate reconstruction works, such as temporary repairs, which are undertaken immediately after a disaster to enable an eligible asset to be operational.

Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the extended disaster assistance would help Territorians to recover from the recent extreme weather.

“Our government will always work closely with our Territory colleagues to provide support during times of hardship,” Mr Watt said.

“This funding will help local governments to undertake restoration and work that is beyond the scope of their operational budgets, ensuring that Territorians are able to rebuild from the impacts of Cyclone Megan.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said repairs would include major highways and roads that have been significantly impacted by the recent severe weather, repairs to public housing, and other infrastructure assets that have been damaged.

“It must be noted that this extension applies to repair and reconstruction of public assets only, it is not available to individuals or private enterprise,” she said.