Federal Member for Farrer Sussan Ley and NSW Member for Albury Greg Aplin today announced a further $118,043 natural disaster recovery assistance to Urana Shire Council for communities impacted by the January 2013 storms and floods, bringing the total assistance package awarded to $239,688.

Ms Ley said the assistance was being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

“The Commonwealth and the New South Wales governments are committed to working together to assist the Urana Shire community to recover from the impact of the 2013 storms,” Ms Ley said.

Mr Aplin said the funds would reimburse Urana Shire Council for costs associated with debris clean-up from essential public assets and emergency restoration works.

“The NDRRA program gives councils the confidence to proactively step into recovery mode without delay, restoring communities to their pre-disaster state, with the confidence that the NDRRA program will reimburse costs associated with recovery,” he said.

Ms Ley commended council, emergency services workers and local residents and local businesses who helped with the post-flood clean up and recovery.

“This funding helps relieve the council and its ratepayers of the burden of costs associated with natural disasters,” she said.

Mr Aplin said the funding had been predominantly invested in reparation work to public buildings.

“Natural disasters are always a challenge for communities to recover from, but with the NDRRA’s grant, we have made substantial recovery and invested in protecting our public assets for the future.”

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