Federal Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and New South Wales Minister for Finance, Services and Property Dominic Perrottet today announced funding of $79,278 for recovery assistance to the Great Lakes Council for communities impacted by March 2014 storms.

Mr Keenan said the assistance was being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

“The Commonwealth and NSW governments are committed to working together to assist affected Great Lakes communities so they can recover from the March storms,” Mr Keenan said.

Mr Perrottet said the funds would reimburse Great Lakes Council for costs associated with debris clean-up to restore essential public assets.

“Debris removal from Tea Gardens alone cost almost $50,000, while the clean-ups in Stroud, Bulahdelah and Forster/Tuncurry cost almost $30,000,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The NDRRA program gives councils the confidence to leap into recovery mode promptly, restoring communities to their pre-disaster state without serious financial detriment.”

Federal Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, welcomed the funding and commended Council, emergency services workers, local residents and businesses involved in the post-storm clean up.

“This funding helps relieve council and its ratepayers of the burden of costs associated with natural disasters,” he said.