Narrabri flood recovery

Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries and Finance and Services Minister Andrew Constance said the government had approved the grant after an application for assistance under the State's natural disaster relief program.

"Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall caused major damage to council infrastructure and inundated buildings," Mr Constance said.

"Council is eligible for a grant following a natural disaster declaration covering the local government area and it will be reimbursed once the works have been carried out."

Mr Humphries welcomed the grant, which he said would relieve the community of some of the costs associated with the storm.

"Flooding caused major damage to recreational assets and resulted in falling trees and debris. This grant covers the total cost of clean-up for emergency works," Mr Humphries said.

"Council also needs to undertake extensive repairs to the Crossing Theatre to return the theatre to its former state, with the costs of repairs to be covered by this grant."

The NSW government's Natural Disaster Relief Assistance Program provides financial assistance to local governments to restore eligible council assets damaged by declared natural disasters.

In the past three financial years, more than $30 million in payments have been made to councils to cover the costs of emergency works and damage to council-owned assets across the State.

Financial assistance is also administered by the Roads and Maritime Services for damage to council roads and bridges.

Under an agreement with the federal government, NSW pays for the first $136.2 million of natural disaster infrastructure costs each year.

The federal government matches NSW expenditure for costs between $136.2 million and $283 million and beyond that covers three quarters of all costs.