It’s one week since the Hudson Fire tore through over 22,000 hectares across the Narran Lakes area, destroying houses and mining camps in its wake, and taking the life of a volunteer firefighter with it. 

In a statement, North West Deputy Group Leader Lance McNaughton said that he was humbled by the efforts of crews on the ground. 

“For most of us it was a long campaign - how everyone worked so hard and so well together to protect our community. It was fantastic to witness,” Mr McNaughton said. 

“There were many frustrating days, forcing us to retreat. Certainly, very stressful and dangerous at times and on some days very sad, but it brought us all together as one team.”

Support available

The government is providing disaster assistance to residents of the Walgett Shire LGA through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). 

Eligible residents will be able to access emergency accommodation and small cash payments, grants to replace essential household items and for structural repairs.

Clean up funding, concessional interest rate loans and freight subsidies will also be made available for eligible councils, business owners, organisations and primary producers. 

“I want to thank those who have worked hard to get this fire under control and I want to assure those whose lives have been disrupted that we will support them through their recovery,” Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said. 

“The NSW Government is continuing to assess the damage and fully understand the impact of this disaster, and the Albanese Government stands ready to respond to any requests for assistance.”

Locally, the Lightning Ridge Rotary Club is accepting bushfire recovery donations. 

“Many people have expressed their desire in making donations, both cash and in-kind to those who have been affected by the local bushfires,” the organisation announced in a call for donations. 

For information relating to financial assistance, replacing lost documents, location of your nearest recovery centre and more, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit www.nsw.gov.au.