Member for Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams said the natural disaster declaration means that funding and support is available

“This means assistance is available to people whose homes or essential household items have been destroyed or damaged, and for business owners and primary producers who have suffered direct damage,” Mrs Williams said.

“Assistance is also available to Port Macquarie-Hastings Council to restore essential public assets like local roads.

“I am urging any local homeowner, business owner or primary producer that suffered direct damage from the July floods to apply for the funding and support which is now on offer,” Mrs Williams said.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Assistance available under the DRFA for the Port Macquarie-Hastings LGA may include:

* Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply);

* Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets;

* Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations; and

* Freight subsidies for primary producers.

More to follow.