DISASTER relief funding will be sought to help repair extensive flood damage estimated to run into the millions of dollars.
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Port Macquarie Hastings has officially been declared as a natural disaster area.
Acting Governor General Marie Bashir AC CVO, will today visit the worst-hit parts of the region with Mayor Peter Besseling.
Sites west of Wauchope, where smaller bridges have been washed away and infrastructure obliterated will be the focus of their tour.
Cr Besseling welcomed the Premier’s natural disaster area declaration.
“There has been significant damage to our roads and bridges, particularly in our outlying village areas which have been council’s highest priority in the cleanup,” he said.
Cr Besseling has seen the emotional and financial impacts on the community first-hand, spending hours sand-bagging and assisting those in the Emergency Operations Centre.
He praised the community for a fantastic and united response, specifically those organisations, families and individuals, who would come to aid when hands were few and sandbags a-plenty.
“Council is working hard to get a complete handle on the full extent of the damage,” Cr Besseling said.
“Our first priority is to get Natural Disaster Relief funding, but there will be a cost to council, regardless.”
Council will submit an application for relief assistance as soon as possible.
An assessment of damages continues this week.