The Member for Hawkesbury Dominic Perrottet is encouraging local councils to apply for a NSW Government Floodplain Management grant to help manage local flood risks.
Mr Perrottet said this grant program helped reduce flood risks to communities, which can ultimately save councils millions of dollars.
“We have all witnessed the devastating impact floods can have on communities,” Mr Perrottet said.
“I encourage local councils to apply for this year’s round of funding, which will help communities to prepare for extreme weather events well in advance of them occurring.
“These grants will help councils to be better prepared and equipped to implement floodplain risk management plans in an effort to reduce the impact of a potential flood.”
Environment Minister Mark Speakman said last year’s grants provided almost $7 million for 16 projects, including a $3.66 million grant to Murrumbidgee Shire Council to continue the Darlington Point Levee and $2 million to Wagga Wagga City Council to upgrade its flood levee protection system.
“This grants program helps councils and other eligible agencies fund flood studies and risk management plans, major projects such as flood levees, flood gates and flood warning systems, and purchasing and raising homes in high risk flooding areas,” Mr Speakman said.
Councils, county councils and other government bodies with floodplain risk management responsibilities equivalent to those of councils are eligible to apply.
Applications under the 2016-17 Floodplain Management Program open on 21 January and close on 17 March.
For more information visit http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/coasts/Floodgrants.htm