Cyclone Seroja-hit family miss out on disaster recovery payment despite losing roof from house - ABC News

A WA couple who had the roof ripped from their 80-year-old farmhouse in winds from Tropical Cyclone Seroja have been told they do not qualify for a federal government disaster recovery payment.

Key points:

• Cyclone disaster recovery payments of up to $1,000 per adult are available
• But Tammy and Warren Treasure live outside the payment zone
• There is a push to expand the assistance area

Federal Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud yesterday announced the government had activated the disaster recovery payment and disaster recovery allowance to support people affected by the cyclone.

But when Tammy Treasure called to register for the one-off recovery payment, she was told she and her partner Warren did not qualify because they did not live in the Shire of Northampton.

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"I haven't been able to work this week, everything costs money and everything is really hard, so I was so happy that there was something," she said.

"I rang them, the lady on the phone was amazing, she was so helpful, but because I don't live in the Northampton Shire we're not eligible for the $1,000 per person support package.

"I was really upset about it actually, I was really disappointed, so I put something on Facebook, and the amount of people that have contacted me has been amazing."

The disaster recovery payment is a one-off, non-means-tested payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who have been adversely affected by a major disaster, either in Australia or overseas.

The disaster recovery allowance is a 13-week, short-term income support payment to assist individuals who can demonstrate that their income has been affected as a direct result of a disaster.

'Please don't forget us'

The Treasures and their farm at Moonyoonooka fall within the boundary of the City of Greater Geraldton.

The roof on their farmhouse was unable to be covered with a tarp, and they were unsure if their home would be able to be saved, although a cottage at the back of their property survived the cyclone.

The Treasures' farmhouse in Moonyoonooka lies outside the zone for the recovery payments.(

ABC Mid West and Wheatbelt: Joanna Prendergast

)

Ms Treasure said most farms in her area had sustained damage from the cyclone and she was disappointed the one-off recovery payment had been restricted to one local government area.

"It feels really gutting. It's not just about the money, don't get me wrong that would so help right this week, but it's like that we're forgotten," she said.

"People don't know that we've even been hit here. The eye came over my house, we were hit hard.

"The focus is on those hit the hardest, but please don't forget us."

Ms Treasure said the response from the local community and volunteers from across the country had been overwhelming.

Geraldton Mayor Shane Van Styn said he was continuing to lobby government for the cash assistance scheme to be extended to cover other local governments.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud issued a statement on Thursday afternoon.

"The Australian Government is working closely with West Australian authorities as the extent of the damage becomes clearer," the statement said.

"We stand ready to extend assistance to those in need based on the advice of the West Australian government."

'Traumatic event' to roll on for some time: Premier

WA Premier Mark McGowan said while the state disaster recovery funding had been activated, it was still unclear what the total cost of the cyclone's destruction was.

WA Premier Mark McGowan says the impact of Cyclone Seroja will linger for some time.(

ABC News: Hugh Sando

)

"Some of these communities are tourism-related areas, and the government will look at what we can do to restore tourism visitation when it is safe to do so," he said.

One-hundred-and-seventy residential properties and businesses were either completely destroyed or severely damaged, while 491 received moderate or slight damage.

There were still 220 properties yet to be assessed

There are 36 public schools in the path of the cyclone that have been cleared to reopen when term 2 begins next week.

A further 10 public schools are still being assessed.

"Obviously this has been a traumatic and dramatic event," Mr McGowan said.

"The ramifications will roll on now for some considerable period of time."

The state government has appointed current State Emergency Management Committee executive officer Melissa Pexton as the recovery controller.

Homes in Kalbarri were decimated when the cyclone hit.(

ABC News: Samille Mitchell

)

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Commissioner Darren Klemm said the appointment of Ms Pexton was a critical step forward.

"Our priority of course at the moment is to make the area safe," he said.

Ms Pexton said her core role at this stage was to talk to the impacted community members.

"We're really focussed on that immediate relief component … the temporary accommodation and obviously making sure that those communities have their lifelines back one, power and telecommunications and so-on," she said.

"In those discussions, as we move forward, we'll be looking at how we can plan for those communities and what that resilience and recovery effort will look like.

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2021-04-15 05:57:59Z
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