Question Time

Flood Relief Operations

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:57): My question is to the Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion. What assistance is the government providing to help the community recover from the recent floods?

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:57): I thank the member for Kaurna for his question and his advocacy, and also the member for Reynell who came out with me to the recovery centres.

At 3.51pm on Wednesday 14 September, the state emergency centre was activated by the State Emergency Service due to flooding concerns. An emergency relief centre was established and opened that night at 7 Conyngham Street, Glenunga, followed quickly by a second relief centre at Jessica Street, Aberfoyle Park. Both of these initial emergency relief centres were closed the next morning and two recovery centres were subsequently opened that same morning at the Old Noarlunga Institute at Patapinda Road and at Greenhill Road, Burnside.

These two recovery centres remained in operation over the weekend, opening from 7am to 7pm on both Saturday and Sunday, to provide the following services: information on the types of assistance available, emergency and flood clean-up grants, and accommodation for those unable to return to their home.

Emergency relief grants were available for affected families, whose property became inaccessible due to the flood, to cover their immediate necessities, such as food and clothing, up to a maximum value of $700. Flood clean-up grants were also available on a per residence basis to people whose principal place of residence was damaged by flood and to a landlord where there is damage to their property. The maximum value of the grant to cover the cost of cleaning up damage was $700.

As of 10am this morning, 257 people have registered at the Burnside and Old Noarlunga emergency recovery centres. A total of 153 grants have been paid, with a combined value of $81,170. This includes 95 emergency clean-up grants and 58 emergency grants. Eight families were also provided with a total of 20 nights' accommodation. The Red Cross has provided invaluable assistance with registrations at the Old Noarlunga emergency relief centre and also began outreach services in Old Noarlunga on Friday 16 September.

We encourage anyone seeking further information about the types of assistance available to visit the website www.sa.gov.au/recovery and, of course, they can call the hotline on 1800 302 787. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those volunteers—including, I think, the member for Morphett—who came out on Wednesday night and Thursday. We really appreciate, in these times of need, that South Australians deliver and support us. Thank you.