SA opens flood grants
South Australia has announced a $51.6 million flood support package.
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas says community members impacted by flooding will be provided financial support as part of the assistance package, including emergency accommodation for those unable to return to their homes, as well as $400 grants for individuals and up to $1,000 for families who are displaced from their homes.
“We need to be flexible, as a government, to respond to the needs as they change over the weeks and months ahead,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Treasurer Stephen Mulligan said the funding would assist families who were not covered by insurance.
“For households and families, who are required to leave their properties due to the threat of inundation, or because of losing power to their homes, they will be entitled to an immediate grant for up to $1,000 for a family for that impact on them,” he said.
“A further $1,000 [will be made available] to try and meet the first two weeks of costs of finding accommodation elsewhere, but bearing in mind that many households will be covered for insurance.
“For those people who aren't covered for insurance, there will be further support available for them from the government — $2,000 for singles and up to $5,000 for families.”
Thousands of people in the Riverland region are set to lose power before floodwaters hit the SA leg of the River Murray early next month.
Power is being shut off as a safety measure, there would be grants to help those affected, including $500 grants to households and $5,000 for businesses to help cover the cost of purchasing a generator.
Mr Malinauskas said SA Power Networks would only cut power if absolutely necessary.
“I think there's work to be done to ensure the extent of those power disconnections is minimised as far as possible,” he said.
The premier also announced the appointment of a flood recovery coordinator for South Australia.
Coordinator Alex Zimmermann says he has already begun familiarising himself with towns which are likely to be impacted by flooding, and that he has already seen community spirit in action.
“I can't reiterate enough … about the resilience that I've seen of the community in the work that they've already undertaken,” he said.
“That's in collaboration particularly with local government and understanding the complexity of this recovery.”