Mr Whan said $17.3 million in State and Commonwealth funding was available over two years for projects under the joint Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme (NDRGS).

“Natural disasters such as floods, storms and bush fires cost NSW millions of dollars a year in damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure,” he said.

“Just as significantly, they can cause major disruption to entire communities and a great deal of heartache to individuals who suffer hardship, injury and loss.

“The Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme is aimed at helping build safer,

sustainable communities that are better prepared, more resilient and can recover more quickly when disaster strikes.

“The kinds of projects that could be eligible include preventative works such as the construction of levees or permanent fire breaks, natural disaster risk management studies, disaster warning systems and community awareness campaigns.

“I would encourage councils and other agencies around the State to apply for grants for projects to help build disaster resilience under the 2009/10 and 2010/11 funding rounds, which are being run concurrently.”

In recognition of their shared responsibilities to protect the community, the NDRGS is jointly funded by Commonwealth, State and local governments under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program, generally on a dollar-for-dollar basis. It replaces the Natural Disaster

Mitigation Program, which committed a total of $48 million for 368 projects across NSW between 2003 and 2009.

Application forms and guidelines and further information are available on

www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/pro gramsgrants Applications close on 16th April 2010.