Mogo's Nook Hair Co and Mogo Wildlife Park are just two of thousands of small businesses across NSW eligible for new government disaster relief grants.
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An extension to the NSW Government payments to include small businesses and not-for-profits was announced on January 24.
Such operators in any one of the 59 local government areas around NSW hit by flooding during November and December 2021 can now apply for grants of up to $50,000 to cover any costs associated with the clean up and recovery from the flooding events.
"If you are in one of those 59 natural disaster declared zones, you will have grants of up to $50,000 to get you back on your feet and help with those cleanup jobs," Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke and Resilience NSW Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons made the announcement at a press conference outside Nook Hair Co on Mogo's main street this morning.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator Bridget McKenzie said it was vital to provide support to help small business bounce back as quickly as possible.
'It means a lot of us [business owners] can get back to how life was before the floods," said owner of Nook Hair Co in Mogo, Naomi Lafranzhi.
"We can fix everything in our shops that we lost," she said. "Things that haven't already being fixed can be fixed. I can have walls replaced... I'm very grateful."
Business owners and not-for-profits can apply for the grant by contacting Services NSW online or via the phone - 13 77 88.
"I would encourage all small businesses and the not-for-profit sector to reach out to Services NSW and really go through with them what you've experienced, and get that concierge service to ensure that you do receive everything that you're entitled to," Ms Cooke said.
Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said the disaster payment was a "long time coming" but was pleased to see the grants being open.
However she pointed out that the grant application website was still closed online at 11:45am this morning - after the announcement.
"Today it still shows the grant as closed on the Service NSW website," Ms Phillips said.
She said the grants were so important to local businesses because of the challenges business owners face in acquiring insurance, or receiving responses from their insurers.
"We've got many businesses that can't get flood insurance," she said. "It's so vital that they have access to the flood disaster recovery grant."
"In a place like Mogo, it is near impossible now to get insurance for your business anymore," former state member for Bega Andrew Constance said.
"Here we have an example of a government having to step in, to be able to support those businesses through very difficult times."
"To the small businesses here - whether it's landscapers, whether it's hairdressing, whether it's those having camping tours that were flooded - for all of those businesses, this will make a major difference," Fiona Kotvojs, Liberal candidate for Bega said.
"Anything that helps these communities to rebuild their businesses is welcome," said Labour candidate for Bega Dr Michael Holland.
He wants to see more action taken to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.
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"While the community is recovering from these two disasters, we've got to reassure them that it won't happen again," he said.
"It is timely that three weeks before a by-election, this strand [of disaster relief government funding] has now been reopened for businesses in Mogo."
"New South Wales is open for business," said Mr Fitzsimmons. "Just because communities are being impacted and affected, don't think they don't want your visitation. You've only got to come down here to the wonderful street of Mogo. Yes, they've done it tough but the rebuilding, the repair, the reconstruction, the healing is alive and well. They're going ahead in leaps and bounds."