Cratered netball courts and rat-infested football grounds are some examples of the flood-damaged community spaces in New South Wales that could be eligible to receive funding for repairs.
Communities hit hard by flooding between February and June last year will be able to access a $70-million dollar community assets fund that can be used to repair libraries, sporting facilities, pedestrian bridges and preschools.
Making the announcement at Singleton, alongside Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell and Federal Hunter MP Dan Repacholi, NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole said councils could apply for up to $7.5m in funding.
"Here in Singleton we know that this area has been flooded on a number of occasions," Mr Toole said.
"We know that a lot of this community's assets like playgrounds, like parks, walkways, cycleways, have all been impacted by flooding which we saw last year."
Mr Repacholi said it was up to the council to decide what assistance to seek.
"They've got so many things in this area, between Singleton, Muswellbrook and Cessnock that people are applying for that they need help with," he said.
The eligible local government areas (LGAs) are Ballina, Bellingen, Bourke, Byron, Camden, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Glen Innes Severn, Hawkesbury, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lismore, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Narromine, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Tenterfield and Tweed.
A greater proportion of the funding will be channelled towards the LGAs that experienced the most damage.
The announcement was welcomed by Alex Bailey from the Singleton Netball Association, whose courts were submerged for several days during flooding in the Hunter Valley in July.
"The bottom [courts] are bobbly and they have craters and cracks throughout, so it makes it quite dangerous for us to play netball," Ms Bailey said.
"Fingers crossed that we do get the funding — it would just help us greatly to be able to increase our numbers as well and get back to having this place covered in netball."
Mr Layzell said there were plenty of sports organisations in the Upper Hunter still trying to recover, including the Singleton Greyhounds Rugby League Club.
"The rugby league guys have had some damage to their shed," he said.
"As a result of the flooding, rats have ran up the lighting poles and decided to chew on the wires.
"I know the council have already stepped in to try and fix that."
Applications will be accepted from Friday and Mr Repacholi said there were likely to be further announcements about similar funding for communities in Western NSW.
