NSW:Seven more NSW areas named disaster zones

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2011
NSW:Seven more NSW areas named disaster zones

SYDNEY, Dec 1 AAP - Seven more councils in northern NSW have been declared natural
disaster zones in the wake of heavy flooding.

Hundreds of farms and rural properties remain isolated across the region after days
of heavy rain, with relief efforts set to continue for several days.

Emergency Services Minister Michael Gallacher on Thursday extended the natural disaster
zones to take in Gunnedah, Narrabri, Gwydir, Muswellbrook, Liverpool Plains, Tamworth
and the Upper Hunter Shire councils.

This brings the total number of affected areas to 10.

Mr Gallacher said he had seen first-hand the damage the heavy flooding had caused to
the region's businesses and farms.

"The natural disaster declarations for these areas activates a number of assistance
schemes for home, land and business owners under the NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements,"

Mr Gallacher said in a statement.

The shires of Moree Plains, Armidale Dumaresq and Inverell were declared natural disaster
zones earlier this week, with entire parts of Moree and Wee Waa remaining underwater after
downpours caused rivers to burst their banks.

Mr Gallacher applauded the State Emergency Service volunteers for their efforts to
help flood-affected residents.

The floods have claimed one life after a three-year-old boy drowned in a stormwater
drain in Bingara, west of Inverell, on Saturday afternoon.

AAP ih/af/sn/

KEYWORD: FLOODS NSW

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