Third cyclone Seroja assistance roadshow to start next week in Mullewa, Perenjori, Mingenew and Geraldton

Cyclone Seroja victims who still need help organising their recovery assistance are urged to come along to public sessions across the Mid West next week.

The recovery assistance roadshow is returning for another round just two months after the latest tour in a bid to “capitalise on community recovery momentum”.

The three-day tour will start in Mullewa on Tuesday, July 19 and will travel to Perenjori and Mingenew on Wednesday, July 20 before ending in Geraldton on Thursday, July 21.

Cyclone Seroja State recovery controller Melissa Pexton said the fact this would be the third time in six months recovery experts would tour the region meant there was still significant interest in families and businesses seeking help as they recover and rebuild from the April 2021 natural disaster.

“We knew the 12-month mark and beyond would bring a renewed interest from families, primary producers and small businesses in understanding what recovery assistance is available,” she said.

“One of the real strengths of these sessions is that cyclone-affected residents can sit down with representatives from different agencies and receive tailored advice that can smooth out any bumps they have with their recovery.

“The face-to-face meetings with one, two or even three recovery specialists at once have been welcomed by the community, especially when one meeting can avoid a long string of emails or phone calls which alleviates the stress that brings.”

Ms Pexton the split at the February and May tours was roughly 50-50 between people asking for recovery information for the first time and those seeking further advice.

“Seeing that split at roughly 50 per cent is a positive sign that recovery is moving in the right direction,” she said.

“The recovery specialists from across government and industry are collaborating to help people with their enquiries, which have mainly been around insurance claims, building permits and some consumer protection issues, especially as work begins to rebuild.”

Last week, the Geraldton Guardian revealed the extent of the slow rollout of the joint State-Federal Recovery and Resilience Grant Program, with just three payments delivered out of more than 350 applications received up until the end of May — more than a year after Seroja.

Eligible households can access up to $20,000 under the $45 million program. The payments delivered to date are worth just over $50,000.

Ms Pexton said the slow delivery was because the program model meant the recovery team needed evidence of the rebuilding works needed to be completed in order for people to be reimbursed. External factors, like worker shortages and insurance claim delays, were taking it longer to disperse the money, she said.

The funding is part of the the record-breaking $104.5m disaster recovery package for Seroja victims funded by State and Federal governments.

JULY RECOVERY ASSISTANCE TOUR

Tuesday, July 19

Mullewa Town Hall (8 Jose Street)

10am-2pm

Wednesday, July 20

Perenjori Town Hall (52-56 Fowler Street)

9.30am-11.30am

Mingenew Recreation Centre (50 Midlands Road)

1.45pm-3.45pm

Thursday, July 21

Geraldton QEII Seniors and Community Centre (88 Durlacher Street)

9.30am-4pm

For bookings, email SerojaGeraldton@dfes.wa.gov.au or call 0448 354 239 (for Geraldton and Mullewa sessions) or SerojaMorawa@dfes.wa.gov.au and 0459 966 311 (for Perenjori and Mingenew sessions).

Agencies represented at these sessions: DFES (recovery and resilience grants team), Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage (heritage grants team), Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (primary producer grants team), Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (consumer protection and building and energy), Department of Communities, Legal Aid, Master Builders Association, Rural West Financial and Business Advisors, Australian Red Cross and Insurance Council of Australia.