Update 23: Katherine region

Immediate relief payments will be available to all residents of Katherine Town Council area and residents of Jilkminggan and Wugularr/Beswick affected by floods to:

• assist residents experiencing personal hardship as a result of the flooding
• help with the immediate impacts of flooding.

This includes immediate relief payments of $611 per adult and $309 per child, capped at $1,537 per family, with payments made via a pre-paid debit card.

For information about how to use your pre-paid card, see pre-paid card limitations PDF (204.0 KB).

Payments for Katherine residents are being made in a phased approach to prioritise those households experiencing the greatest impact.

Residents include those that reside in the area for work purposes, but their permanent residence may be elsewhere.

Payments will be prioritised for households most affected, including those whose homes were inundated.

Please do not come to the payment centre until advised. See below for the first stage of priority phasing.

How and when to apply

Find out how and when you can apply below.

For residents of Katherine

Katherine residents whose homes have been inundated or who are staying at an evacuation centre.

On Thursday 12 March – immediate relief payments will be available from 12noon once the venue is safe to open.

You can apply between:

• 9am and 5pm weekdays
• 9am to 5pm Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March.

All other Katherine residents

Payments will commence from 9am Friday 13 March.

Where to apply

The Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre
LOT 3238 Stuart Hwy
Katherine East

Applications will be processed based on priority groups outlined above.

Services Australia are in attendance at the recovery centres to help with any urgent Centrelink business whilst the Katherine Service Centre is closed.

Payments are no longer being processed from Katherine High School.

What to bring

Eligible residents must bring:

• photo ID (e.g. drivers’ licence)
• proof of residence (recent rental agreement, rates notice, utilities bill, letter from employer)
• proof of family status (e.g. Medicare card or Centrelink).

We thank the community for their patience during this time.

For residents of Jilkminggan

Payments will be made from the evacuation centre in Mataranka.

Further information about how to apply will be available shortly.

For residents of Wugularr/Beswick

Further information about how to apply will be available shortly.

Further assistance may also be available to replace essential household items, with eligible households able to receive up to $8,843.

This assistance is means tested and there are limits on claims.

This may include support to repair or replace essential household items, such as:

• beds and bedding
• furniture
• refrigerators
• washing machines
• other whitegoods
• basic household items.

Eligibility assessment and payment options will be finalised once damage assessments can be completed.

To ensure you have the appropriate evidence to support damage and eligibility assessments, you must document (photos and footage) any inundation (flooding) of your home.  Do not dispose of damaged items without recording evidence of the damage.

Eligible flood-affected residents in the Katherine Town Council area may receive $340 per adult and $172 per child, capped at $1,160 per family to reimburse the cost of short-term temporary accommodation while they are unable to return home. This assistance is means tested.

How to apply

Payments are made via reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses up to $1,160 per family.

Affected residents can apply:

• in person at the Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday
• an online form will be available soon.

Eligible residents must provide:

• a tax receipt for out-of-pocket accommodation expenses in the name of the applicant (including ABN and GST details)
• photo ID (such as drivers’ licence)
• proof of residence (recent rental agreement, rates notice, utilities bill, letter from employer)
• proof of annual income (payslips, tax statements or Centrelink statements).

Income limits apply

Payments are means-tested, and income thresholds apply. Please see below for income thresholds.

The DRFA also supports the NT Government and local authorities to undertake:

• counter-disaster operations
• debris removal
• emergency works
• restoration of essential public infrastructure.