Residents in flood affected areas of the Narromine =
and=20
Trangie can breathe a sigh of relief following Federal Member for =
Parkes, Mark=20
Coulton, declaring earlier this week that the shire was now eligible for =
the=20
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP).
The Attorney-General, Robert McClelland ann-ounced on Wednesday the =
areas=20
that were previously unable to access the AGDRP in north western NSW- =
the local=20
government areas of Narromine, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, =
Coonamble,=20
Dubbo, Gilgandra, Mid-Western, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle and =
Wellington- now=20
qualified for the payment.=20
=E2=80=9CAreas in the Parkes Electorate have experienced flooding =
from November 2010=20
up until recently, with limited government assistance =
available,=E2=80=9D Mr McClelland=20
said.
=E2=80=9CI was personally contacted by numerous community members who =
applied for the=20
AGDRP; however their applications were rejected by Centrelink on the =
basis that=20
their area had not=20
been declared a natural disaster.
=E2=80=9CThis announcement will relieve a lot of pressure off =
families and residents=20
in these areas.=E2=80=9D=20
The AGDRP provides one off payments of $1000 for adults and $400 for =
children=20
in areas that have been adversely affected by a major or widespread =
disaster.=20
Mr Coulton met with the Attorney-General in early March to request =
that these=20
flood affected areas and communities be declared a natural disaster and =
in turn=20
able to access the AGDRP immediately.=20
=E2=80=9CMany of these communities were cut-off for several weeks by =
the flooding,=E2=80=9D=20
Mr Coulton said.
=E2=80=9CResidents were until recently isolated, with many people =
living on=20
properties requiring food drops, which they were required to pay out of =
their=20
own pocket. Other residents were paying for accommodation in town so =
their=20
children could attend school.
=E2=80=9CThis announcement has been long-awaited and I am =
exceptionally pleased with=20
the outcome,=E2=80=9D Mr Coulton said.
=E2=80=9CI encourage any people in these declared LGA=E2=80=99s who =
were directly affected by=20
flooding to contact Centrelink.=E2=80=9D
The AGDRP is available to people in declared areas:
o who were stranded in their principal place of residence for a =
period of 24=20
hours or more, or;=20
o who were unable to gain access to their principal place of =
residence for a=20
period of 24 hours or more, or;=20
o whose principal place of residence was without electricity, water, =
gas,=20
sewerage services or another essential service for at least 48 hours (a =
utility=20
failure) and the utility failure was caused by damage to public or =
private=20
infrastructure, or;=20
o whose principal place of residence has been destroyed, or;=20
o whose principal place of residence sustained major damage, or;=20
o who were seriously injured, or;=20
o who is the immediate family member of an Australian who died as a =
direct=20
result of the disaster, or;=20
o who is a principal carer of a dependent child who has experienced =
any of=20
the above.