Gov't provides further assistance for Exmouth and Onslow from cyclone trust fund

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The communities of Exmouth and Onslow, extensively damaged by Cyclone Vance last year, are continuing to receive assistance from the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments.
The Federal Minister for Regional Services; Territories and Local Government, Senator Ian Macdonald, and Western Australian Premier Richard Court recently announced assistance grants totalling $468,000 for a range of projects in the two communities.
The grants come from a $10 million trust fund established by Prime Minister John Howard and the Premier after the devastation caused in Western Australia by Cyclones Elaine and Vance. The funds were over and above the Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements already in place between the Commonwealth and the States.
"We sympathise with the difficulties people have been through", Senator Macdonald said.
"That's why the Prime Minister and Premier Court created the trust fund - to help people help themselves."
A variety of projects are being supported, with grants totalling $372,000 for Exmouth and $96,000 for Onslow.
Mr Court said that more than $9 million had now been allocated from the fund to Exmouth, Onlsow, Gascoyne pastoralists and the community of Moora.
"Our main goal has been to get these communities back on track as quickly as possible and all those involved have been impressed by the resilience and commitment that has been shown by local government, residents and businesses alike," Mr Court said.
The latest injection of funds includes:
• assistance to enable Exmouth to connect an emergency generator system to the local Emergency Services Building, the Police Station, the shire hall and the shire office, to provide power in the event of a natural disaster or other disruption to electricity supplies;
• funds to reimburse Exmouth Shire for clean up costs arising from the cyclone;
• a grant to the tourist industry in Exmouth to assist with the production of a 2000 Holiday Guide brochure. This will help rebuild businesses struggling to recover from a difficult year; and -
• Onslow projects include assistance for upgrading streetscapes, repairing damage to the St John's Ambulance facilities, reinstating a carpark and general community recovery and clean up costs.

Another initiative being undertaken by the State and Commonwealth will enable some of Exmouth's older residents to continue to be housed in their home town.
The WA Health Department, Homeswest and the Commonwealth are contributing to build aged care units for residents whose homes were destroyed. They would otherwise have to move out of the area to find accommodation.
Mr Court and Senator Macdonald said they were pleased with how representatives from both governments and the affected areas had worked together to make sure funding was effectively targeted towards getting the communities back on their feet.
The trust fund committee asked local authorities to provide prioritised and itemised applications for community projects resulting from cyclone and flood damage.
Applications have been assessed against selection criteria agreed to by both the Federal and Western Australian Governments. To date, $2.2 million from the trust fund has been allocated specifically for community reconstruction grants. Projects funded by the trust fund included sporting clubs, tourist facilities and emergency services needs.
Media contact: Casey Cahill 9222 94475