Perrottet seeks extra federal flood funds
Phoebe Loomes |
As roiling thunderstorms cross eastern and inland NSW, Premier Dominic Perrottet says more federal funding to repair flood-damaged roads may be on the way.
His message comes as regional communities try to salvage what’s left after weeks of devastating rain.
Flood recovery crosses party lines, and the NSW and federal governments have been working collaboratively to get assistance out the door, Mr Perrottet said on Thursday.
“It’s above politics,” the premier said from Albury.
Talks between the NSW and Commonwealth governments have been ongoing since catastrophic flooding hit the Northern Rivers earlier this year.
“Those communities have been absolutely devastated, broken, and it’s a long journey ahead,” Mr Perrottet said.
Flooding has recently hit a number of inland communities, including Deniliquin, Moama and Moree, where the premier visited this week.
Mr Perrottet said he spoke with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday and an announcement would be made on Friday, when the pair are due to meet.
It comes after Mr Perrottet said he was seeking funds to pay for the repair of roads and infrastructure.
A number of major roads and highways are closed across NSW because of flooding, straining farmers already facing crop losses.
“Some of our farmers were going to be facing a bumper harvest this year, and that’s been taken away,” Deputy Premier Paul Toole said on Wednesday.
“We probably won’t know the full extent of it until the waters do recede, to actually see whether or not farmers can get on to their paddocks.”
Thunderstorms are forecast for the eastern half of NSW through to the Queensland border on Thursday, Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Gabrielle Woodhouse told AAP.
Areas likely to be hit by storms include the Hunter and the North Coast, while showers will continue across parts of inland NSW, including the Western Slopes.
Next week a new system will bring rain, widespread showers and storms from Sunday, continuing on Monday and Tuesday.
“It does seem likely that we’ll see widespread showers and storms,” Ms Woodhouse said.
“As everything is so wet, it’s not going to take much for some of those rivers to respond and cause flooding across those inland catchments.”
A severe thunderstorm warning was issued for the South Coast on Wednesday night, as convergent winds triggered dangerous cells around Eden and Merimbula.
The storms were forecast to bring heavy rainfall, flash flooding and damaging winds to the warning area on Wednesday evening.
Some 27 flood warnings remain in place across NSW, including nine for major flooding at the Namoi, Gwydir, Mehi, Macquarie, Bogan, Lachlan, Murrumbidgee, Barwon, Darling and Snowy rivers.
AAP
