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Bland Shire still waiting for flood assistance

Bland Shire residents still do not know if they will receive federal disaster help five months after being flooded.

Wagga Wagga CBD residents were eligible for the $1000 cash grants even though they were not flooded, but Bland Shire's original damage bill did not trigger the extra disaster aid.

The General Manager of the West Wyalong based council, Ray Smith says a revised application lodged six weeks ago lists $23m in losses, but there's still no news.

"Adrian Piccoli has been a great support and I think he's done everything he can," he said.

"I think Adrian might be getting frustrated at the process as well.

"I guess the message from Bland Shire to our politicians are please, give us an answer one way or the other and don't keep us hanging on.

"If an an answer's gonna be no, tell us no and we can get on with it.

"We were led to believe that this was the basis on which to submit the application that would then prompt Category C recognition.

"I think a lot of the local farmers have basically given up now.

"Obviously they have to get on with life but it would have been nice just to get that answer one way or the other."

The Bland Shire Council is questioning New South Wales government delays in its bid for the federal disaster aid.

"We've now been told the applications' only left the office of Katrina Hodgkinson," Mr Smith said.

"In local government you appreciate there are processes to be followed but given the fact that this affects many many members of our community, particularly Ungarie, there could be some way of just moving this along a little bit quicker."


- ABC

© ABC 2012

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