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Washington urges Premier to declare Port Stephens a Natural Disaster zone

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Port Stephens MP Kate Washington is urging NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet to declare her electorate a Natural Disaster zone, too.

It comes after the Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Dungog and Singleton LGAs were added to the list, which originally included Cessnock, on Thursday 7 July.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Taylor Martin said the Natural Disaster declaration meant funding and extra support were now available for those areas.

“That includes people whose homes or essential household items have been destroyed or damaged; and for business owners and primary producers who have suffered direct damage,” he explained.

“Financial assistance is also available to those councils to restore critical public assets like local roads.”

Ms Washington was amazed Port Stephens was ignored for the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), given the extent of damage in her electorate.

“The surrounding LGAs of Maitland and Dungog were declared, while isolated suburbs on the other side of the Hunter River have been excluded,” she said.

“I cannot believe Port Stephens has been left off the list yet again.

“How can one side of the flooded Hunter River be a natural disaster area and the other isn’t?

“It’s entirely illogical.

“I’ve spoken to farmers and residents who described this as the worst flood they have seen in decades.

“Those in Hinton and Nelsons Plains are flooded in, and properties in Seaham and Raymond Terrace are heavily-impacted.

“But, Port Stephens hasn’t yet been added to the disaster declaration list.

“There are residents in Hinton and Osterley, including pensioners, who can’t get home and are staying in local motels – however, can’t access the disaster payments.

“Premier Dominic Perrottet should declare a Natural Disaster for Port Stephens while he’s in the Hunter today.

“If not, he must explain to flood-affected farmers and residents of Port Stephens, why they don’t deserve access to assistance.”

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