The federal and state governments announced new bushfire assistance funding for the Blue Mountains this morning (Wednesday, December 18).
Grants of $15,000 are now available for bushfire-hit small businesses in the Blue Mountains council area as well as other regions, including the Hawkesbury.
The funding announcement came less than a day after the Blue Mountains' three political representatives called on the NSW government to provide urgent assistance for the area.
Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman, State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle and Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill issued a joint statement at 2.30pm on Tuesday. It called on the government to act before there are more property losses in the Blue Mountains.
"The state government must trigger the necessary mechanisms that allow residents and businesses in the Blue Mountains to access bushfire assistance," the statement read.
In comments on Wednesday, Ms Templeman and Ms Doyle both welcomed the new support - but with qualifications.
Ms Templeman said "it should have come a month ago" while Ms Doyle called on the Premier to declare a formal State of Emergency.
Federal natural disaster and emergency management minister David Littleproud announced on Wednesday that up to $12 million had been made available to extend the community recovery assistance program.
"This will help farmers and small business clean-up, repair damaged equipment and fencing and replace stock," he said.
"This will make sure businesses can open and people are back to work sooner. When money flows around a community it can help to speed up the whole recovery.
"Another $1.35 million will go to the Bushfires Community Recovery Fund, delivering mental health services for communities, volunteers and emergency services staff in these areas."
NSW emergency services minister David Elliott said the funding announcement comes in addition to $48.25 million already committed by the state and federal governments to bushfire disaster recovery.
"The assistance being announced today in the six local government areas of Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Cessnock, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Singleton is on top of the range of support already being provided through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA)," he said.
Blue Mountains mayor Mark Greenhill said: "We made the call for assistance because our community needs help and we will keep advocating. We have such a long way to go."
Susan Templeman's statement on Wednesday said: "From the day the fires first started impacting on local homes and properties, I have called for this support, spoken with the local State MP for Hawkesbury, spoken with both the state minister's office and the federal minister at length, impressing upon them the urgent need so that people can start regrouping. I thank people who have contacted me and shared their private stories.
"There is [also] a crying need for emotional and psychological support on the ground. Not everyone who has been through the trauma of fighting a fire or waiting for news of their home needs it right now, but some do. I hope we see this support being delivered in a way our communities feel meets their needs."
Blue Mountains MP Trish Doyle said Wednesday's "announcement of recovery grants is a good step in the right direction and I'm pleased that they have responded to our call".
"However, we desperately need additional resources to assist in the firefighting effort and contrary to what the Premier said earlier this week, the word from firefighters on the ground is that they are under resourced," she said.
Ms Doyle's comments were made after the Premier's response to a question on exhausted volunteers and the possibility of more coming from interstate, was that "...resourcing is meeting needs".
"For the Premier to hold yet another press conference this week and make no commitments to help in the firefighting effort, is an insult to our firefighters who are hurting emotionally, physically and financially.
"In my view, given the forecasts for the Blue Mountains and Hawkesbury regions, it would be appropriate for the Premier to declare a State of Emergency," Ms Doyle said.
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.
To apply for recovery grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au.
