Byron Shire Mayor, Michael Lyon, has welcomed the news that flood-affected people in the Byron Council area are now eligible for extra financial help from the Australian Government.
Yesterday’s announcement said that the Byron, Ballina, Tweed and Kyogle Council areas would be added to the LGAs in northern NSW that are recognised for having suffered severe and large-scale damage as result of the floods.
A great relief
Mayor Michael Lyon said it was a great relief for many residents who have, and are, suffering and facing immense challenges because of the floods. ‘Many local people I have spoken to in the last week were confused about why these special payments were only announced for the people in the Clarence Valley, Lismore and Richmond Valley council areas and not Byron, Tweed or Ballina.
‘I met with Shane Stone, Coordinator-General of the National Recovery and Resilience Agency today and we discussed Byron Shire’s eligibility for this additional funding as well as the next steps in the recovery phase.
‘It certainly caused an enormous additional angst for some of our residents, and I am very pleased this situation has been remedied,’ said Cr Lyon.
The AGDRP is a non-means-tested payment and is available to eligible people in the Byron Shire who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury.
How to claim the AGDRP
- Call Services Australia on 180 22 66
- Via the myGov website
- Go to the Services Australia website
- Visit the Byron Shire Flood Recovery Centre at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall in Dalley Street.
For information on assistance and support available from the NSW Government:
- Call Service NSW on 13 77 88
- Service NSW Service NSW website
- Visit the Byron Shire Flood Recovery Centre at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall in Dalley Street.
