Key Points
- Flood-affected NSW communities will soon have access to emergency payments after federal support was approved.
- Those in 23 local government areas in NSW impacted by floods will be eligible.
Flood-affected communities will have access to emergency payments after the prime minister approved federal financial support.
Adults in 23 local government areas in NSW impacted by floods will be eligible for a $1000 disaster recovery payment plus $400 for every child.
The one-off payments will be available from Thursday afternoon, Anthony Albanese announced.
For employees and sole traders who lose income due to the floods, the disaster recovery allowance has also been made available for up to 13 weeks.
The payments are expected to hit people's bank accounts as quickly as possible, Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said.
"There are some people who are still waiting for approval of payments from earlier floods ... we intend to address that going forward," he told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
"These payments announced today, they are quick, simple payments to get out the door as quickly as possible and that's what we intend to do."
Mr Albanese also confirmed Australian Defence Force (ADF) assistance would be increased, with a third helicopter being made available along with 250 ADF personnel.
Mr Perrottet also addressed media on Wednesday morning, reminding residents to follow evacuation orders in the affected areas.
"The evacuation orders are not in place for the sake of it; those evacuation orders are there to keep you and your family safe," he said.
Mr Perrottet said there were currently 108 evacuation orders in place and 56 evacuation warnings, with 11 evacuation centres open across the state.
The premier said the orders were affecting around 85,000 people across NSW, up from 50,000 on Tuesday.
Overnight, the SES received about 1,200 requests for help as the Hunter region and Central Coast copped a drenching, with 55 of those calls for flood rescues as people continue to drive into rising waters.
NSW flood threat remains as rain moves north
Severe weather continued to batter the state on Wednesday, with multiple rivers at major or moderate flood levels as the weather system shifts north.
Authorities remain focused on the Hawkesbury-Nepean where the river levels reached heights not seen for decades.
Danger is also increasing for the Central Coast, Hunter Valley and Mid-North Coast where flash flooding is underway as river levels rise around Coffs Harbour and Taree.
SES deputy commissioner Ashley Sullivan says the danger for flooded communities continues and river levels will stay high for some time, prompting fears of landslips.
"There's still a few days to go and I suspect these flood warnings will remain in place through the weekend and in some places into early next week," Mr Sullivan said.
Rain is easing in Sydney and the Illawarra but the flooding remains, with roads cut off, debris floating in floodwaters and businesses completely submerged.
Some properties have been isolated for days and infrastructure such as roads, power, water, and telecommunications are damaged.
