Website helps flood victims rebuild

A new tool designed to help flood-affected residents in the Northern Rivers has been launched by the NSW Government.

The Rebuild Assist web page allows people to search for licensed, insured local tradespeople to help repair their homes and businesses.

Rebuild Assist also provides tailored information and directs people to other government websites, including links about insurance and emergency building provisions, as well as providing safety and building fact sheets.

“Tropical Cyclone Debbie has had a devastating impact on the local community and the last headache anyone needs is to be ripped off by shonky operators, so this platform works to ensure consumers are treated fairly,” said NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation Matt Kean.

“Rebuild Assist also means businesses that are doing the right thing are a key player in the economic recovery of the community.”

The NSW Government is also supporting flood-affected residents by waiving the five-day waiting period regarding asbestos removal.

“This common-sense approach means families and businesses can start the removal of dangerous asbestos sooner rather than later and get the ball rolling on repairs,” Kean said.

Rebuild Assist includes about 14,000 local tradesperson profiles that outline their licence status and home building compensation fund information.

Over 1300 of these tradespeople have kept their details up to date with Fair Trading, and have been contacted and given the information they need to further update their profiles. Tradespeople who have not been contacted should call 1800 055 555 to verify their identity.

Initially, the government is focusing on building profiles for tradespeople in the six disaster-declared LGAs up on the website (Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed Shire). The focus will expand to neighbouring areas in the coming weeks.

Image credit: ©FreeImages.com/Lotus Head

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