MOREE, Narrabri and Walgett Shire Councils are three of 14 New South Wales regional councils to start receiving natural disaster recovery payments upfront through new Tripartite Agreement funding arrangements.
Before the agreements were introduced, councils had to spend their own money to undertake the repairs and then claim the costs back through the Australian and NSW Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, placing a heavy strain on some council finances.
Once councils have signed up they can access advance funding at the start of each stage of reconstruction work.
The newly-signed councils join 19 other regional councils that have already signed agreements with Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority that will provide accelerated funding to enable repairs to roads and transport infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.
The agreements mean less financial pressure on councils, faster repairs for communities after natural disasters and better collaboration between state and local government agencies.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said councils needed systems in place to get communities functioning again as quickly as possible when the danger has passed.
“We have all seen the damage natural disasters can bring and we also know they are a destructive fact of life,” Mr Scully said.
“That is where these Tripartite Agreements can play such an important role in getting disaster recovery payments to councils quickly and efficiently.”
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the government is working closely with local councils to support them in disaster response and recovery.
“The feedback we have had from councils who have already signed up to these agreements has been positive and we look forward to building on this success so we can help communities rebuild faster after natural disasters,” he said.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison infrastructure is one of the things most affected, and needs to be repaired quickly so communities can reconnect, and goods and services can start moving again following a natural disaster.
“Prior to the terrible natural disasters in 2022 only $190 million a year was allocated for disaster recovery for roads,” she said.
“Under these new agreements, we have already seen more than $304 million in fast-tracked funding roll out to repair roads and transport infrastructure damaged in natural disasters.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said under the new scheme, councils would receive payment immediately.
“In the past councils might have had to wait months, sometimes years, before being reimbursed for the cost of disaster-related repairs. Councils that have signed up to the Tripartite Agreements can now get it without delay,” she said.
“Clearing financial and some of the administrative hurdles will make an enormous difference and I am pleased to be part of a government that has listened to the needs of communities and acted.”
