The NSW Government has opened a disaster recovery centre at the Cessnock City Council administration building to support flood victims during the clean-up process.
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The centre opened its doors on Saturday morning and will operate until at least Friday, May 8 (until further operations are determined).
A recovery centre is a one-stop shop that centralises the delivery of local, state and Commonwealth government and non-government services to people affected by disasters.
The centres will provide financial assistance and advice, temporary housing advice and support, insurance advice, mental health support, assistance for farmers and business support.
Information and services that will be in the recovery centres include Disaster Welfare Services, WorkCover, Legal Aid, Red Cross, NSW Health, the Office of the NSW Commissioner for Small Business and Fair Trading.
Recovery coordinator, retired Australian Army Brigadier Darren Naumann arrived in the Hunter earlier this week to lead the clean-up and is working hard to ensure local council-led recovery work is supported.
As recovery coordinator, his role is to coordinate local and state government agencies and facilitate with local communities during the clean-up process.
Brigadier Naumann was at the Cessnock centre on Saturday afternoon and said it was great to see that the community is “soldiering on”, but that it was important to seek assistance if you need it.
“These regions have gone through a significant natural disaster, but it hasn’t knocked them for six,” he said.
“But there still may be many people in great need of assistance.
“The Disaster Recovery Centres give people who are affected the support they need.
“There is help available, and people shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask.
“Make yourselves known to us, because if we don’t know, we can’t help.”
Cessnock Mayor Bob Pynsent said council was pleased to have the centre operating out of its premises, as it shows that council and state agencies are working hard to help people get through the crisis.
“It means so much to us from a community perspective,” he said.
Cr. Pynsent praised the resilience and camaraderie the local community has shown in the wake of the storm.
The Cessnock Disaster Recovery Centre can be contacted on 4991 7649. Operating hours are Saturday and Sunday 10am to 4pm and Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm; entry is via council’s Cumberland Street carpark.
