This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE federal and NSW governments will provide funding to repair, restore and enhance First Nations-owned social and cultural assets damaged in 2022’s February and June floods.
The funding is now available through the $44 million Aboriginal-owned Assets Program, for community infrastructure like First Nations-owned day-care centres, medical and aged-care facilities, cultural sites and keeping places.
With the program set to support Local Aboriginal Land Councils (LALCs) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations that own or manage social infrastructure.
“These organisations are often on the front line in times of need, ensuring timely, practical and culturally sensitive support is available to First Nations people and communities,” said Linda Burney, federal minister for Indigenous Australians.
The support will target the most flood-impacted LGAs including Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Camden, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes Severn, Hawkesbury, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Narromine, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Tenterfield and Tweed.
“We are committed to the recovery of flood-affected regions, and this program is a firm commitment to ensure First Nations-led organisations have what they need to recover and thrive,” said Murray Watt, minister for emergency management.
“We want to see communities bounce back even stronger after the floods, and this support will not just repair infrastructure, but make it more resilient to future natural disasters.”
The Aboriginal-owned Assets Program is jointly funded by the Federal and NSW Governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
