DISASTER assistance is being made available to 14 SA councils affected by the severe storms late last month.
The assistance, through the jointly-funded state/federal government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, is on offer to the Local Government Areas of Cleve, Coober Pedy, Elliston, Flinders Ranges, Franklin Harbour, Grant, Kimba, Lower Eyre Peninsula, Pastoral Unincorporated Land, Port Augusta, Roxby Downs, Streaky Bay, Tumby Bay and Whyalla.
Federal Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Minister Bridget McKenzie said the storms had caused significant disruptions to communities and key transport infrastructure routes.
"The federal government has also provided assistance with the delivery of food and supplies to communities affected by road and rail disruptions in SA, including working with industry and states and territories to increase freight capacity into WA, put in place alternative road routes into the NT and airlifted food to Coober Pedy," she said.
Premier Steven Marshall, who toured the state's northern regions last week, said the "initial assistance" would help councils cover the costs associated with clean-up activities, repairing roads and keeping communities safe.
RELATED READING: First drone footage of the rail damage and repair in outback SA
RELATED READING: Freight on the move again to Darwin, at 20km/hr
A Storm and Flood Damage hotline (1800 302 787) has been established, while recovery coordinator Nick Reade has been appointed, with the major emergency declaration rescinded on Tuesday night.
"Our surveys have found that about 60 per cent of graingrowers said the impact of the rain was very likely or likely to restrict their ability to sow all or some of their crop this season, and more than 80pc reported significant topsoil erosion and fencing damage," he said.
"After GPSA chair Adrian McCabe and I visited the Kimba, Cleve and Cummins districts, it was made clear to us the immediate priority is repairing unsealed roads, while access to paddocks for controlling weeds is another challenge.
"On a positive note, the rain has provided EP graingrowers a full soil moisture profile ahead of seeding."
Primary Industries Minister David Basham also toured KI and the EP and said PIRSA would "work with industry to determine how best to assist primary producers to plan their recovery".
- Start the day with all the big news in agriculture. Sign up here to receive our daily Stock Journal newsletter.
