“Having toured the region during the floods and talked with affected farmers and small business owners, I understand the immense damage these floods have caused,” Mr Stoner said.

“Over the past few weeks, I have called for the highest levels of assistance to be made available to farmers and small businesses as soon as possible.

“Under the Natural Disaster Relief Fund, state departments are required to provide an assessment of flood damage and a request for federal assistance can only be made to the Australian Government if the criteria are met.

“Unfortunately the data collected on the ground indicated that the floods did not meet the Federal Government’s natural disaster category “C” criteria.

“Despite this, a range of relief and recovery measures have been made to businesses, local councils and primary producers.

“These include concessional rate loans for small businesses, restoration grants as well as personal hardship and distress grants. These measures were initiated very rapidly following the June Floods.

“I am also working closely with the minister for primary industries Katrina Hodgkinson to ensure other possible forms of assistance, such as donated stock feed, can be made available to Mid North Coast farmers affected by the June floods.

“Any primary producers seeking to access the assistance measures available under the current natural disaster declaration categories should contact the Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593,” he added.