Flood disaster recovery was underway in Gunnedah last week, and service providers were on the ground to assist those in need.

The Recovery Assistance Point was stood up Thursday afternoon and continued until Saturday at the Salvation Army Hall on Tempest Street.

The temporary disaster centre included staff from NSW Reconstruction Authority, insurance providers, Legal Aid NSW, Service NSW and the Red Cross.

A letterbox drop in flood-affected areas of Gunnedah was conducted prior to their arrival, informing residents about the assistance available.

Many of those seeking assistance from this month’s flooding event were also affected by the 2021-22 floods in Gunnedah.

Some residents had only recently established themselves this year when the new wave of flooding began in early August.

Some people have tried to move on and sell their properties but couldn’t and were caught up in the flooding again.

Other people affected included pensioners and low-income earners, who due to their financial circumstances, were unable to relocate.

Those visiting the disaster centre also reported feeling out-matched by disaster areas in other parts of state, where the flood and storm impact was more significant.

The August 2025 floods in the Gunnedah shire were declared a natural disaster on August 8. But much of this assistance is targeted at compensating local councils for damaged public infrastructure.

The declaration is used as a means to share costs between councils and the state and federal governments.

Some assistance is also available for eligible primary producers and non-profit organisations.

Although the disaster declaration’s main support for residential areas affected is centred around emergency accommodation during flood evacuations, some assistance is available after the event.

People in eligible flood zones in the Gunnedah area who either had their homes impacted by floodwater, were evacuated or were without power for three days, were eligible for immediate financial assistance.

Food vouchers of $100 per individual and $200 per family were available at the recovery centre and administered by Red Cross disaster assistance volunteers.

Also available was the Disaster Relief Grant – which provided support to those deemed “most in need”.

This included low-income earners such as pensioners and those in situations where flood damage is not covered by insurance.

Other criteria also required included that the damaged property needed to be the primary place of residence and has been within six months since the disaster occurred.

Assistance they could receive under the DRG included help with the flood clean-up, replacement of essential household goods such as appliances and furniture as well as grants for structural repairs.

Assistance was also being provided in financial counselling, planning and strategies to help navigate not only the short-term recovery process but the long term as well.

More information about this grant and other recovery information is available at nsw.gov.au/emergency/floods/recover