Seven
Prescribed Body Corporates (PBCs) impacted by the one-in-one-hundred-year
flooding in Western Australia's Kimberley region earlier this year will receive
Government support to continue their important recovery role.
Jointly funded
by the Albanese and Cook Governments, through the Commonwealth-State
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the Prescribed
Body Corporate Recovery Support Program will fund eligible PBCs to provide community engagement, advocacy and
cultural navigation services to support recovery activities and initiatives
over the next two years.
This support is in addition to other jointly
funded recovery assistance measures that PBCs are eligible for, including
grants for social and environmental recovery projects, as well as grants to
assist with the clean-up and repair of their business premises.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt
said the PBC program would continue to help local Indigenous communities get
back on their feet following the flooding which impacted large parts of WA's
Kimberley region.
"PBCs continue to act as a vital connector between Government and the local
community to ensure the appropriate coordination of response and recovery
efforts," Minister Watt said.
"The Albanese Government will continue to work with
the Cook Government - and importantly, impacted communities - to get the right
help to those people who need it.
"Throughout this recovery we have made it a priority
to consult with communities to ensure assistance is delivered in a culturally
appropriate way that helps families get back on Country and restore heritage
and conservation sites as soon as possible."
Western
Australian Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the need
for ongoing PBC participation in recovery activities was critical.
"Since the floods these PBCs have played a key role in the recovery effort,"
Minister Dawson said.
"They've
been helping Government agencies to engage effectively and appropriately with the
community, connecting community members with recovery services and information,
advocating for members and supporting the economic participation of their
communities.
"That's why the Cook Government has been working with the Albanese Government
to help build the capacity of Aboriginal PBCs impacted by the floods and support their
participation in the recovery process."
