Emma McBride

Helping businesses bounce back

„ EMMA MCBRIDE

On July 1, the Central Coast was hit by yet another natural disaster.

Flood waters inundated homes and businesses across the Coast, caused widespread blackouts, and isolated entire towns.

Some locals said it was the worst flood they had seen in a long time. It was also our third flood in just four years.

Floods of this severity and frequency have been devastating for our community.

Not just for residents, but also for businesses and sole traders.

We know for some it will take a long time to recover and support is desperately needed.

That’s why the Albanese Government acted quickly and worked with the NSW Government to roll out disaster assistance across the state.

Under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, we are providing help to locals and business owners who have lost or damaged belongings during the floods.

We are also providing concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers, and non-profit organisations who have suffered direct damage because of this disaster.

We are providing freight subsidies for primary producers and recovery grants of up to $75,000, as well as

Emma McBride, Dr. Gordon Reid, David Harris, and Senator Murray Watt with SES crews in Wyong.

$50,000 grants for small businesses and not-for-profits who need help with their recovery.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is available for people who have suffered a significant loss, while the Disaster Recovery Allowance will provide employees and sole traders with up to 13 weeks of support if they have lost income because of this disaster.

Locals will have until 10 January 2023 to lodge a claim through MyGov, and they can contact Services Australia to find out if they’re eligible.

This support will play a key role in helping local businesses and workers get back on their feet.

But we also recognise this isn’t the only support locals will need.

Targeting mental health

That’s why we’ve announced $13.1M to deliver targeted mental health support for flood-affected communities across NSW, including the Central Coast.

Part of this funding will go towards Wellbeing and Resilience grants for the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network to help locals recover from this disaster.

As the Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, I understand traumatic events like this take a toll on individuals and communities.

In the coming weeks and months, we can expect a surge in demand for mental health support and I want people to know there is support available.

Anyone experiencing distress can seek immediate support through Lifeline (13 11 14), the Head to Health phoneline (1800 595 212) or head to the Government’s digital mental health gateway at www.headtohealth.gov.au.

The Albanese Government will make sure our business community has the support it needs to bounce back.

Whether its financial assistance or access to mental health support, there is help available.

Emma McBride is Member for Dobell and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention and Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health

Helping Coasties Bounce Back from the Floods $1000 for Adults $400 for Children

The Disaster Recovery Payment

is available for eligible locals who have su ered a significant loss during the floods

Find out if you are eligible through Services Australia and apply through MyGov

ALL ABOARD THE PREMIER EXPRESSION We’ve heard it all before

„ DALLAS SHERRRINGHAM

PREMIER Dominic Perrottet and the national media have combined to turn a very important announcement of improved rail service for the Central Coast into a ‘fantasy’.

“Sydney to Gosford in 25 minutes,” boomed newsreaders on multiple TV news services. “Sydney to Newcastle in an hour!” The Fast Train was back. Some even claimed it was the ‘Vey Fast Train’.

The ABC even used a photo of a French Very Fast Train to illustrate its story.

Of course, we have heard it all before on the Central Coast – at every election since time immemorial.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese even pulled it down off the shelf and attempted to use it at the recent Federal election with a $500m grant, but someone must have tapped him on the shoulder and told him Coast people think it is a farce. It quickly went back on the shelf.

To be fair, the Premier did give the Fast Train a mention quoting fanciful times in his announcement of $500m in improvements to the Tuggerah-Wyong rail line.

What he said was the $500M commitment in the 2022-23 NSW Budget would bring ‘faster rail’ a step closer, along with quicker and more reliable connections between Sydney, the Central Coast and Newcastle.

The funding will go to the first stage of the Northern Corridor, helping build two new electrified rail tracks between Tuggerah and Wyong, new platforms and station upgrades, new bridges including over the Wyong River and safeguarding future fast rail connections to the north and south, subject to agreement with the new Federal Government.

But then he went a step too far.

“The NSW Government’s Fast Rail vision could slash travel times between Sydney and Newcastle to one hour, Sydney and Gosford to 25 minutes and Sydney to Wollongong in just 45 minutes.”

And the media went into a frenzy as the Premier went on.

“We’re committed to a rail network that helps shape our State’s growth for the next century, starting with improvements to cut delays and lay the foundations for making faster travel times a reality,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This investment will improve reliability and increase capacity in the rail network helping deliver better services closer to home for the people on the Central Coast as we plan a brighter future for the people across the State.”

Treasurer Matt Kean jumped on the Fast Train wagon and said the project “would help transform NSW”.

“We’re committing $500m towards early works, planning and further development of the line that will initially minimise delays and eventually allow high speed travel and drastically cut travel times,” Mr Kean said.

“This will create tens of thousands of jobs and significantly boost the economy.”

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch was more restrained and realistic in his support. He said the NSW Government’s commitment for rail improvements on the Central Coast “builds on a Federal Government commitment to this great part of the state”.

“This investment will help improve the capacity and reliability of the intercity network and will make journeys to and from our region faster and easier for Central Coast commuters,” Mr Crouch said.

“This is in addition to the $300M investment in the state-of-the-art rail maintenance yard in Kangy Angy, which has helped create over 90 full time jobs for Central Coast locals.

Site investigations as part of the project are scheduled to commence before the end of 2022.

REPLACES FORMER LOOPS

I did my research as usual and found that the new line would replace two passing loops between Tuggerah and Wyong which closed down in the 1990s.

Rail experts have always maintained that the travel times quoted by visiting Federal and State Ministers were “Impossible” because of the design of the network which restricts speeds through the urban network from Hornsby to Central via Strathfield.

Any plans for a Very fast Train link would need a whole new underground route from Sydney or Parramatta to the Hawkesbury River, a difficult tunnel under the River and a new route to Ourimbah and on to Newcaste.

HOME LOAN

SERVICE DESIGNED AROUND YOU

ANZ Mobile Lending

Wyong WE CAN SUPPLY BATTERIES TO YOUR BUSINESS

OPEN 7 DAYS

MON-FRI SAT SUN 7:30am-5:00pm 8:00am-3:00pm 9:00am-1:00pm

WE CAN COME TO YOU

London Dr Pac i fic High way

Shop 3, 1A London Drive, Wyong