Dungog Shire Council has been given $1.1 million to pay for repairs to Alison Court – a bank of residential units severely damaged during the 2015 April super storm.
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Twelve units damaged during the natural disaster almost two years ago have been rebuilt.
But council has put the brakes on repairs to the remaining six units pending a flood study that will assess the risk of another incident similar to the super storm.
The money came from the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery scheme, which was a joint state and federal government initiative.
Dungog Mayor Harold Johnston said the funding was “extremely helpful”.
He said the money would cover the cost of repairs already undertaken at Alison Court, which council paid for using its own reserves.
“Council had to fund the work out of its own reserve, we can take that burden off our own reserves,” Cr Johnston said.
“Like the vast majority of councils in NSW we, in a way, self insured through Statewide Mutual.
“There’s a certain amount of money they have every year for claims. But you get to a stage when you have a widespread disaster – because it wasn’t just Dungog, it was Port Stephens Great Lakes, Maitland, Cessnock, a huge area was impacted – the money is just not there.
“Those [units] we haven't rebuilt were the most impacted. Council is not prepared to take the risk until we know what the flood study says.”
Federal Lyne MP David Gillespie said, before last year’s election, Cr Johnston had taken him on a tour around Dungog to show him the damage the natural disaster had caused.
“While the assessment of council’s application was being undertaken at a state level, I took the opportunity to make representations to my federal colleague, Justice Minister Michael Keenan, and I am pleased to see we have had a successful outcome,” Dr Gillespie said.
“Our government will always stand ready to assist communities in need.
“This funding will go a long way towards repairing an essential piece of community infrastructure for Dungog.”