Highlands residents are eligible for the state and Australian government's disaster assistance funding program.
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The program is for those impacted by flooding from April 5, 2024 and is being provided through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
It is one of 13 local government areas that are eligible.
Wingecarribee Shire Council general manager Lisa Miscamble encouraged residents with emergency needs and property damage to reach out for support.
"Our council crews are currently out surveying the damage in our region following the extreme downpour from late last week," she said.
"We know many of us are struggling with the damage done, and the clean-up operations underway."
The general manager said it was great to see the government support the area, and thanked the SES and volunteers for their help.
"The full scope of the damage is continuing to be assessed," she said.
"Council's priority is to assist with the most impacted areas, and to make them as safe as possible, as soon as possible."
The support covers:
- Funding for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets.
- Assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs such as emergency accommodation, or small cash payments to purchase essential items generally provided from evacuation or recovery centres.
- Grants for eligible residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain a basic standard of living.
- Grants for residents to have essential structural repairs done to restore their homes to a safe and habitable condition.
- Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, sporting and recreation clubs, and non-profit organisations to repair, or replace damaged or destroyed property.
- Freight subsidies for primary producers to help transport livestock and fodder.
Those who need urgent assistance can contact the council's customer service team by calling 02 4808 0888.
Head to livetraffic.com for the latest updates on road closures.
Further assistance can be found on disasterassist.gov.au.
