❓ Hon Bruce Donaldson asks about government assistance for Lake Grace after severe storm damage. Hon Kim Chance confirms eligibility for national disaster relief, acknowledges the Shire's financial limitations, and details assessments underway for small business support.
AnsweredQoN 15Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
LAKE GRACE STORM DAMAGE
(1) What assistance will the government provide to residents, businesses, farmers and the Shire of Lake Grace for the restoration of services, roads and infrastructure in the Lake Grace area, which has been savaged by storms and excessive rainfall? (2) Does this area meet the criteria for federal government assistance? Hon KIM CHANCE
(1) What assistance will the government provide to residents, businesses, farmers and the Shire of Lake Grace for the restoration of services, roads and infrastructure in the Lake Grace area, which has been savaged by storms and excessive rainfall? (2) Does this area meet the criteria for federal government assistance? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
(2) Does this area meet the criteria for federal government assistance? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
(1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
(2) Does this area meet the criteria for federal government assistance? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: (1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
(1)-(2) Hon Bruce Donaldson has almost answered his own question. The event that occurred at Lake Grace, which was a massive flood event - a once in 500 years event - qualifies for national disaster relief assistance. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure flew to Lake Grace as soon the area was physically capable of taking a visit. She made an assessment, as far as she possibly could, on the area’s needs. Obviously, it took a long time to get the drainage work done to a sufficient point to even make an assessment of the extent of the damage. The situation is now well understood. The amount of damage has been pretty well established. The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has made it quite clear that even under the national disaster relief arrangements - which I understand to be a one-third, one-third, one-third process between the commonwealth, state and local governments - the amount of money involved is so big that the Shire of Lake Grace’s share would be beyond its capacity. That means that the question should be directed to the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. The minister has been reported publicly as saying that she will not allow the shire to go broke as a result of that arrangement. To get a more precise definition of where the government is on this matter, the question should be addressed to her. The question relates to not only the infrastructure issues that are covered by the national disaster relief arrangements, but also small business issues in Lake Grace that have arisen because of the flood and its aftermath and the resulting reduction in business that can be undertaken by traders in Lake Grace. That was brought to my attention a couple of weeks ago by the Wheatbelt Development Commission. I have asked the Wheatbelt Development Commission to continue its assessment of the state of small business, in particular, in Lake Grace, and I imagine it will also liaise with the Small Business Development Corporation. I expect to hear from the Wheatbelt Development Commission soon. I know that the commission is speaking with local government as well as private sector traders. If there is an issue that we can help with, we must first know the facts, and that is the process that we are engaged in right now. However, there certainly seems to be an issue.
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