The first in a series of bushfire recovery information sessions will be held in Byabarra on Thursday, August 6.
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The events are being hosted by rural recovery support services - NSW department of primary industries in conjunction with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council.
During the sessions, residents in affected areas are likely to receive information on a range of important services and support currently available.
This variety of assistance includes, financial grants, trauma and recovery support and mental health services.
The session will be facilitated by recovery officer rural recovery support service - Mid Coast NSW Department of Primary Industries - Julie King and community recovery officer with council Kate Macfarlane.
The 2019 and 2020 bushfire season was particularly devastating for the Port Macquarie-Hastings community.
According to data compiled by the National Bushfire Recovery Agency some 1740 square kilometres - or 47 per cent - of the local government area was impacted by bushfire.
That included 332 square kilometres of primary production land - or around 26 per cent of total primary production land.
Sixty-six per cent of bushlands and forests - around 1088 square kilometres - was also burnt.
That impact of the bushfire was estimated to have caused $123.3 million in damage to the local economy (3.2 per cent of the total local economy).
The bushfire season saw 50 outbuildings, four facilities and 26 houses destroyed while a further 18 outbuildings, 2 facilities and 11 houses were damaged.
The agency also reported relief and recovery support had been provided to individuals and families for the 2019/20 bushfire season.
This included:
Disaster Recovery Allowance, number of payments 20, totalling $212,021;
Disaster Recovery Payment, number of payments 10,605, totalling $12.76 million; and
Additional Payment for Children, number of payments 5474, totalling $2.19 million.
Small business and primary producers had also received payments during the same period.
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These included:
Concessional Loans, 15 payments, totalling $1.27 million;
Primary Producer Grants, 49 payments, totalling $2.63 million;
Small Business Grants ($50,000), 54 payments, totalling $1.44 million;
Small Business Grants ($10,000), 1640 payments, totalling $16.40 million.
Other planned information sessions will be held at:
- August 6, Long Flat pub 1.30pm until 3.30pm.
- Tuesday August 11, Hollisdale Hall, 10 until noon and Beechwood Hall, 1.30pm until 3.30pm.
- Tuesday August 18, Rollands Plains Hall, 10am until 12.30pm.
- Tuesday August 25, Hollisdale Hall, 10am until noon and Beechwood Hall, 1.30pm until 3.30pm.
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