Severe storms and rainfall across Northern NSW have caused flash flooding. Tens of thousands of homes and businesses are without power or have been damaged by floodwaters. People and families have been evacuated, and don’t know when they will be able to return home. In Sydney, more than 500,000 people were impacted by evacuation orders or warnings on Thursday 3rd March.

The first priority is of course your safety and that of your family and employees. Please follow the advice of the emergency services and look out for each other. Our team is readily available to assist your business if you are being impacted by the heavy rain and flooding.

Master Builders NSW can assist you in the following areas:

Legal Team

• Extension of time clauses in contracts - all MBA NSW contracts allow for extension of time due to adverse weather. Check your contract clauses for delays and extension of time responsibilities. If needed, feel free to contact the legal team. 
• We are here to provide advice on flood or rain damage liability for current or completed sites.

Insurance Team (MBIB)

• Ready to assist with any claim queries, risk management requirements, and the lodgement of claims. 
• Claims can be notified directly by using this link: https://www.mbib.com.au/make-a-claim/

Industrial Relations Team

• Payments to employees that are unable to perform work duties due to inclement weather.

Work Health and Safety Team

• Site shutdown due to inclement weather. 

If you need help in any of the above areas, call Master Builders NSW on 02 8586 3555.

Disaster Relief Programs

Below are some State & Commonwealth Governments sites offering information on disaster relief grants.

NSW State Government

• Financial assistance
  https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-assistance

• Disaster Relief Grant for individuals
  https://www.nsw.gov.au/resilience-nsw/disaster-relief-grant-for-individuals

• Natural disaster declarations
  https://www.nsw.gov.au/disaster-recovery/natural-disaster-declarations#toc-financial-year-2021-22

• Disaster recovery
  https://www.nsw.gov.au/disaster-recovery

Commonwealth Government

In addition, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced additional commonwealth financial assistance for flood victims in NSW. 

• https://www.pm.gov.au/media/additional-commonwealth-financial-assistance-flood-victims-queensland-and-new-south-wales (26 Feb 22)
• https://www.pm.gov.au/media/additional-commonwealth-financial-assistance-flood-victims-queensland-and-new-south-wales (3 Mar 22)

Services Australia Natural Disaster (Commonwealth)
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster
 

21.3.22 - Grants extended for small business

Emergency assistance and information

• For emergency assistance, contact SES in NSW on 132 500.
• If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
• For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology in NSW here
• Current evacuation centres available can be found here
• If you're not sure what to do when there's a flood, here's the best way to plan