Parliamentary Questions

Question On Notice No. 1060 asked in the Legislative Council on 25 October 2022 by Hon Martin Aldridge

Question Directed to the: Minister for Emergency Services
Parliament: 41 Session: 1


Question

Answered on 30 November 2022

The below answer is in response to Legislative Council Questions on Notice 1060, 1062, 1063, 1064, and 1065.

 

The Recovery and Resilience Grant program is administered by the Department of Emergency Services (DFES). It is for insured homeowners is a reimbursement grant.  Payments cannot be undertaken until the invoice has been paid by the owner. Once an applicant is assessed as being eligible the timing of the grant payments is dependent on progress of works and is not within the control of DFES.

 

(1) As of 01 November 2022:

 

(a) $45 million has been set aside for reimbursement to eligible parties upon completion of works;

(b) 492 applications have been received;

(c) 123 applications have been approved;

(d) $531,178.03 has been disbursed; and

(e)

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
City of Greater Geraldton	$13,109.42
Shire of Chapman Valley	$19,380.03
Shire of Mingenew	$40,000.00
Shire of Northampton	$438,688.58
Shire of Perenjori	$20,000.00
Total	$531,178.03

 

(2) As of 01 November 2022:

 

(a) The ‘Clean Up Assistance for Uninsured Residents’ program is funded through Category A of the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and is uncapped;

(b) 23 applications have been received;

(c) 14 applications have been approved;

(d) $146,683.82 has been disbursed; and

(e)

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
Shire of Chapman Valley	$44,785.53
Shire of Northampton	$101,898.29
Total	$146,683.82

 

For the Primary Producer Recovery Grant

 

The Primary Producer Recovery Grant is administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

 

(1) As of 01 November 2022:

(a) $26.3 million has been allocated;

(b) 115 applications have been received;

(c) 97 applications have been approved;

(d) $1,895,468.34 has been disbursed; and

(e)

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
Shire of Carnarvon	$44,150.89
Shire of Carnamah	$76,080.78
Shire of Chapman Valley	$196,694.91
Shire of Dalwallinu	$40,000.00
City of Greater Geraldton	$409,788.78
Shire of Koorda	$25,000.00
Shire of Mingenew	$151,921.14
Shire of Morawa	$119,357.50
Shire of Mt Marshall	$12,387.85
Shire of Murchison	$25,000.00
Shire of Northampton	$582,411.88
Shire of Perenjori	$187,674.61
Shire of three Springs	$25,000.00
Total	$1,895,468.34

 

For the Measures to Assist Primary Producers program.

 

(2) As of 01 November 2022:

(a) These are demand-driven assistance measures. There is no capped total funding for the assistance measures in this category;

(b) 29 applications have been received;

(c) 20 applications have been approved;

(d) $274,621.79 has been disbursed; and

(e)     

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
Shire of Chapman Valley	$10,353.34
Shire of Coorow	$9,362.80
City of Greater Geraldton	$35,232.27
Shire of Mingenew	$97,219.92
Shire of Northampton	$15,655.75
Shire of Perenjori	$106,797.71
Total	$274,621.79

 

For the Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-Up and Repair Grant program.

 

The Cultural and Heritage Asset Clean-Up and Repair Grant is administered by the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage (DPLH).

 

(1) As of 01 November 2022:

(a) $1,960,000 million has been allocated;

(b) 46 applications have been received;

(c) 1 application has been approved;

(d) $22,000 has been disbursed; and

(e)     

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
City of Greater Geraldton	$22,000
Total	$22,000

 

For Community and Recreational Clean-Up and Restoration Grant program

 

The Community and Recreational Asset Clean-Up and Restoration Program is a reimbursement scheme as opposed to a grants program and is jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

 

(1) As of 01 November 2022:

(a) $2.2 million has been allocated to the Community and Recreational Asset Clean-Up and Restoration Program (DLGSC-Local Government). $2.1 million has been allocated to the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions (DBCA) for the restoration of tourism sites and recreational assets that are managed and owned by the State;

(b) Applications are not made under this program, however there were ten claims received.

(c) Nine claims have been paid.

(d) $133,038.32 reimbursed for local government claims; and

(e)     

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
Shire of Chapman Valley	$922.82
City of Greater Geraldton	$1,125.60
Shire of Mingenew	$59,065.80
Shire of Mt Marshall	$5,635.00
Shire of Northampton	$66,289.10
Total	$133,038.32

 

For the Small Business Recovery Grant Program

 

The Small Business Recovery Grant Program is administered by the Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC).

 

(1) As of 01 November 2022:

(a) $ 17.7 million has been allocated;

(b) 82 applications have been received;

(c) 53 applications have been approved;

(d) $837,696.57 has been disbursed; and

(e)     

Local Government Area	Funds Disbursed
Shire of Perenjori	$39,742.00
City of Greater Geraldton	$122,900.95
Shire of Morawa	$25,000.00
Shire of Chapman Valley	$25,257.00
Shire of Mt Marshall	$6,368.00
Shire of Northampton	$618,428.62
Total	$837,696.57

           

The Department of Communities (DOC) is responsible for the tropical cyclone Seroja community outreach and welfare program.

1)      Seven.

2)       

·         Shire of Northampton (including Kalbarri)

·         Shire of Chapman Valley

·         Shire of Morawa

·         Shire of Perenjori

·         Shire of Three Springs

·         Shire of Mingenew

·         Shire of Carnamah

·         City of Greater Geraldton (including Mullewa)

·         Shire of Koorda

·         Shire of Shark Bay

·         Shire of Dalwallinu

·         Shire of Irwin

·         Shire of Mount Marshall

 

3)      As of 1 November 2022, $3,131,320.

4)      As of 1 November 2022, $1,404,914 funded 12 FTE DoC staff to coordinate and deliver ongoing recovery activities. A further $1,073,022 funded specialist and mental health service providers to deliver against recovery priorities structured around the following areas: personal support such as social, emotional, and psychological support services; community resilience, training, and development. The operational expenses for the program to 1 November 2022 were $653,384.

Ongoing recovery activities include:

·         Coordination of financial assistance to low income and uninsured residents to replace or repair essential household items and/or repair homes to be habitable, safe, and secure.

·         Coordination of specialist service providers (Red Cross and GIVIT) to support the social wellbeing of people who have been severely impacted.

·         Coordination of mental health services through the following local providers: Centacare, Dessert Blue Connect and Mission Australia.

·         Provision of support for complex case coordination for at-risk people.

 

5)      a) 30 June 2023.

b) No.

c) No. The DoC is currently working with stakeholders, service providers and the community to evaluate the existing program and assess the need for further services post June 2023.

d) Any unspent funds cannot be utilised for additional or other programs.