Tweed ratepayers whose properties were damaged in this year’s devastating floods will receive rates relief under a $40 million program designed to help affected communities rebuild and recover.
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said the NSW Government scheme would provide much-needed support for residential, commercial and farming ratepayers in seven of the State’s most severely impacted local government areas.
“The flooding during February and March this year was unprecedented, deeply affecting ratepayers in the region, so this program will provide direct support to people whose main residential or business premises were directly affected,” Mr Provest said.
“We know people in Tweed have been through a very trying time but this program will help affected ratepayers get back on their feet sooner.”
The seven eligible Local Government Areas are Byron, Ballina, Tweed, Lismore, Richmond, Kyogle and Clarence.
Mr Provest said the NSW Government would make 2022/23 rates payments direct to councils on behalf of eligible ratepayers.
“With the focus now on rebuilding in the Northern Rivers, this program will give people one less thing to worry about over the next 12 months,” Mr Provest said.
“Funding will be provided through Service NSW and rates payments will be made automatically to local councils where a ratepayer in one of the seven LGAs has made a successful claim through Service NSW, or their property has been assessed as damaged.”
The NSW Government had already contributed more than $3.5 billion towards flood recovery efforts, including the $120 million Local Council Support Package announced in March and a range of other resources and grants.