Communities across the Hunter and Mid North Coast of New South Wales are receiving a significant boost in flood recovery efforts, with the Albanese Government rolling out a fresh wave of support aimed at helping locals get back on their feet.
From Tuesday, 27 May, Australian Defence Force personnel will be deployed alongside Disaster Relief Australia teams to assist with clean-up and early recovery operations. The coordinated effort, led by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), will see reinforcements from emergency services not only from across Australia—including ACT, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western Australia—but also from New Zealand.
“This is about standing with people in their toughest moments,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“At the worst of times, we see the best of the Australian character, and we’ve seen that once again in New South Wales.
My message to these communities is simple: we’ve got your back.”
The recovery effort includes on-the-ground assistance with welfare checks, clearance of access routes, and the restoration of vital infrastructure. Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said the presence of Defence Force personnel will be critical in supporting overwhelmed local resources.
“They’ll be there this week, working shoulder-to-shoulder with emergency services and Disaster Relief Australia to help communities through the early recovery phase,”
he said.
Nineteen Local Government Areas have been covered under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. These include provisions for emergency accommodation, essential household items, and financial support for local councils, small businesses, and primary producers.
Personal Hardship Payments are also available, providing urgent assistance for essentials such as food, clothing, and medicines. Further, from 2:00 pm today, eligible workers in Kempsey, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Mid-Coast, and Dungog can apply for the Commonwealth’s Disaster Recovery Allowance, which offers up to 13 weeks of income support.
Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring communities aren’t left behind. “This clean-up support on the ground is just the beginning of getting people back on their feet,” she said.
“There will be a united effort between all levels of government to support impacted communities at every stage of recovery.”
She added that more tailored assistance would be activated as damage assessments continue and the full extent of the disaster becomes clearer.
Additionally, a Community Recovery Support Fund, co-funded by the Albanese and Minns Governments, will be made available to assist local councils with immediate clean-up and restoration work as the situation unfolds.
For more information, residents are encouraged to visit New South Wales and Commonwealth support websites for details on available assistance.
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