Victims Disappointed They Will Miss Out On Disaster Relief Funding
Flood victims in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley have criticised the Government for locking them out of the Natural Disaster Relief Fund.
The small community of Molesworth was cut off for several days after floods wiped out bridges and caused extensive damage to the area more than two weeks ago. The State and Federal governments’ Natural Disaster Relief Fund is available to anyone with less than $35,000 worth of assets. Molesworth resident Trish McMillan said it was disappointing.
“In my case, and there’s a lot of other residents here as well, who won’t get any part of that grant,” she said. Ms McMillan’s insurance would not cover the damage to her pump shed and driveway.
“My problems are minor compared to others,” she said. “Further up the road they got hit pretty hard, but they’re employed .as well and have assets over and above so are not getting any of that.”
She said many of her neighbours were questioning the means testing.
Derwent Valley Councillor Paul Belcher said only a handful of people in the Derwent Valley would be eligible for the funding. “There is going to be probably 95 per cent of the people affected who are not going to benefit from any sort of funding from the state or federal buckets of money.” Derwent Valley Mayor Martyn Evans said the community is feeling left out and disheartened. “I think the Federal Government should be saying it’s for all properties that are affected, not just means tested,” he said.
A State Government spokesman said the disaster assistance is specifically targeted at those who “need it the most, such as families or those on lower incomes”.
“The disaster assistance available is providing a much-needed helping hand to those affected,” he said.