A message from the Mayor - Emergency Declaration information

Published on 22 May 2025

Hunter River - May 22 2025 - Dunnolly Bridge (1).jpg

As the Hunter River continues to rise, I encourage everyone to keep safe during this time and follow the directions of the SES and Emergency services as required.

As usual, I pay tribute to those SES and emergency services workers, community volunteers and Council staff working around the clock to keep everyone in our community safe. Thank you.

But we must also do our bit to ensure our own safety. Please, please do not enter flood water, including in your vehicle. The water can be deeper than you think, contain harmful material and conceal damaged or missing parts of roads.

If you need assistance, please contact the SES on 132 500 or if your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

I also extend my thoughts to our neighbouring local government areas and to those communities who are isolated and experiencing difficult circumstances during this time.

Finally, I’m very pleased the Federal and State governments have acted quickly to activate disaster assistance to 16 NSW local government areas, including Singleton, which unlocks a range of support for individuals and our community.

More information about the natural disaster recovery and assistance is available below.

Flood recovery updates and information

Flood Recovery Updates 

If you have been impacted by storms and floods, help is available.

For mental health support, call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511 or Lifeline Australia on 13 11 14.

For free health advice anytime day or night, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Returning home after severe weather may be delayed if the area is unsafe. Keep up to date on the latest warnings from NSW SES and any road closures via Live Traffic NSW.

Once you return home, there may be hazards. Keep safe when cleaning up.

For health advice to reduce your risk of injury, sickness or infection during and after a natural disaster, visit NSW Health. What to do immediately after a flood or storm.  

Natural disaster declaration - recovery and natural disaster assistance

Find information and support to help you and your community

Recovering from a natural disaster | NSW Government

Australian Government reference numbers (AGRNs) are used to identify natural disaster declarations, which list areas affected by a disaster.

The AGRN for the NSW East Coast Severe Weather from 18 May 2025 is 1212.

Assistance available:

Individual assistance

  • Immediate assistance such as emergency accommodation
  • Grants for low income, uninsured residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living
  • Grants for low income, uninsured residents to undertake essential structural repairs to homes damaged by the disaster event

Primary producers and small businesses

  • Concessional loans up to $130,000
  • Transport subsidies up to $15,000

Sporting and recreation clubs

  • Concessional loans up to $10,000
  • Grant up to $2,000

Not-for-profit organisations

  • Concessional loans up to $25,000

Assistance + support

To speak to someone about finding support available to you, call Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Check the Grants and funding finder for other support programs you might be eligible for:

Grants and funding | NSW Government

More information about grants and payments for individuals and households:

Financial support for individuals and households | NSW Government

 

 

 

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