NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Matt Kean, has launched the Rebuild Assist web page, to help flood-affected families of the Northern Rivers get back on their feet.
According to the NSW Government’s media release, the web page is a one-stop shop where people can search for licensed, insured local tradespeople to help repair and rebuild their homes and businesses.
Rebuild Assist also provides tailored information and directs people to other government websites including links about insurance, emergency building provisions, as well as providing safety and building fact sheets.
Kean emphasised the benefits that Rebuild Assist will provide to the local community, including the prevention of being ripped off by ‘shonky operators’.
“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.
“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.”
Rebuild Assist includes about 14,000 local tradesperson profiles that outline their licence status and home building compensation fund information. 1,350 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 haven’t been contacted should ring 1800 055 555 to verify their identity.
The media release also states that the NSW Government are focusing on building profiles for tradespeople in the six disaster-declared Local Government Associations (LGAs) up on the website, which are: Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, and Tweed Shire. Their focus will expand to neighbouring areas in the coming weeks.
The launch of Rebuild Assist comes just ten days after the Queensland Government’s launch of the QBCC Building and Tradie Assistance Register and the QBCC Building Certifier Register.
The Rebuild Assist website can be found here.
Image via Pixabay.