Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has welcomed the extension of NDRAA assistance to several local government areas in Cape York following recent severe weather.
Mr Entsch said six additional local government areas, Cook, Hope Vale, Lockhart River, Napranum, Torres and Wujal Wujal, had been granted NDRAA assistance to help those communities recover.
He said a total of 11 Cape York local government areas were now receiving NDRAA assistance following widespread storms and flooding last month.
“Heavy rain and flash flooding caused major damage to local infrastructure in several of these communities,” Mr Entsch said.
“Several communities were inundated and cut-off after rainfalls of up to 500mm was recorded across large parts of the Cape.
“The full scale of damage in some communities is still unknown due to inaccessibility.”
Mr Entsch said personal hardship and distress assistance would be made available to people living in Aurukun, Cook, Hope Vale, Lockhart River, Mornington, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Torres, Torres Strait Island and Wujal Wujal local government areas.
He said personal and financial counselling would also be made available to residents living in those local government areas.
“This assistance will help towards the resupply of emergency food and water to affected residents and provide temporary accommodation to locals whose homes were affected by flooding,” he said.
“Counsellors will be made available to provide counselling for individuals and families to alleviate personal hardship and distress arising as a direct result of the disaster.”
Mr Entsch said the funding demonstrated the Commonwealth Governments' commitment to providing continuing relief and recovery assistance following natural disasters.
He said the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements is a jointly funded program between the Australian Government and state and territory governments.
“I actually will be travelling to several of the affected communities next week and look forward to seeing how the recovery effort is going,” he said.
“These communities often feel left-out due to their remoteness, so it is great to see the Federal Government step-up to the plate when they need it the most.”
LGAs where NDRAA assistance has been activated:
Aurukun
Cook
Hope Vale
Lockhart River
Mapoon
Mornington
Napranum
Northern Peninsula Area
Torres
Torres Strait Island
Wujal Wujal
