Federal and state governments have announced natural disaster assistance will be available for six more areas.
SIX more areas have been added to the natural disaster declarations list.
Acting Premier Andrew Stoner, Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher and federal minister Nicola Roxon yesterday announced natural assistance would be made available to six more local government areas – bringing the total number of LGAs eligible for assistance to 51.
The latest to join the list are the shires of Warrumbungle, Gilgandra, Coonamble, Walgett, Warren and Bogan.
“Some 40,000 hectares of land has been burned as a result of the Wambelong fire, which continues to burn uncontrolled in the Warrumbungle National Park, west of Coonabarabran,” Mr Stoner said.
“The Rural Fire Service has fought hard to minimise the damage from this blaze, but sadly it has so far claimed 33 homes and over 50 sheds with a large number of stock and machinery losses.”
Mr Stoner said RFS and police were continuing to assess fire-affected area and the damage and loss number could increase.
The declarations trigger a number of disaster assistance schemes to assist with the cost of disaster relief and recovery.
The schemes are made available by the NSW government and supported by the Commonwealth government.