Steph Cooke MP
Member for Cootamundra

​​Friday, 13 November 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has today encouraged eligible landholders to apply for funding through the Supporting our Neighbours program to help replace bushfire-damaged boundary fencing adjoining public lands. Funding through the program is still available, and Ms Cooke said the NSW Government remains committed to helping bushfire-hit rural landholders recover, rolling out 13km in fencing bordering public lands throughout the region. “Fe

​​Monday, 20 April 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the NSW Nationals in Government’s $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package to support forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries impacted by the recent bushfires. “The Dunns Road Fire had an enormous impact on so many of our communities, combined with the ongoing strain of drought. This package will go some ways in helping the many industries who are still trying to recover from these indi

​​Tuesday, 14 April 2020​ The NSW Government has committed $209 million to support landholders to rebuild essential boundary fences destroyed by recent bushfires in the region. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the new ‘Supporting Our Neighbours Project’ will help cover the cost of rebuilding boundary fences shared by private and public land managers, while supporting local farmers and businesses to recover. “The Dunns Road Fire burnt more in 330,000 hectares, causing

​Thursday, 6 February 2020​ The NSW Government has announced six months of council rates relief to ease the burden for anyone who lost their home or small business in the recent bush fires. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said this is another way the NSW Government is doing all it can to help local communities recover and rebuild from the devastating bushfires. “It is just common sense that people who lost their homes in the recent horrific bushfires should not have to p

​​Wednesday, 5 February 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has addressed parliament commemorating the sacrifice of the electorate and surrounding communities during the bushfire crisis. Ms Cooke said her focus was on the continued efforts of volunteers and emergency services who have been part of the struggle to contain the Dunns Road Fire, which has burnt more than 333,900 hectares. “This fire season has been horrific, 25 people have lost their lives, hundreds of mi

​​Monday, 3 February 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the news businesses and primary producers in the Cootamundra-Gundagai local government area have now been included in the regions eligible for bushfire recovery grants. The change means recovery grants of up to $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small businesses are now available to help with repairs and stock replacement. Ms Cooke said the extension of the $100 million joint Federal and S

​Monday, 3 February 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has welcomed the launch of a new business portal and concierge service that will help regional businesses gain access to NSW government procurement opportunities, as part of the bushfire recovery process. Ms Cooke encourages local suppliers to register with the new online business portal, which will make government agencies aware of the services they provide. “I have seen first-hand the enormous amount of clean-up

​​Wednesday, 22 January 2020​ Bushfire affected families can now access all available assistance in one place with the NSW Government creating a ‘one stop shop’ for local, State and Federal support. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the new Bushfire Customer Care Program, delivered by Service NSW, will simplify the application process for those impacted by bushfires. “These bushfires have devastated communities and livelihoods. People’s lives are already stressful eno

​​Tuesday, 21 January 2020​ The State Government has today announced local farmers affected by the recent bush fires can now apply for a Special Disaster Grant of up to $75,000 to help pay for recovery costs thanks to a joint initiative by the State and Federal Governments. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said primary producers devastated by the fires needed support to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. “Our farmers have faced crippling drought and ferocious f

​​Monday, 20 January 2020​ Member for Cootamundra has announced today that work is already underway to clear insured and uninsured properties across NSW following the recent bushfire crisis. “The NSW Government will coordinate the clean-up of residential and commercial properties destroyed by bush fires this season, at no cost to owners, so they can start rebuilding,” Ms Cooke said. “I have spent a lot of time over the last nearly four weeks working alongside volunteers in T

​​Monday, 13 January 2020​ The NSW Government is deploying teams of mental health clinicians to support people suffering from the bushfire crisis to help rebuild their lives. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said that it is important that we realise that the effects of the bushfires on community members will continue long after the crisis period has passed. “We all pull together during a crisis, but we need to remember that the trauma that fire affected community members,

​Friday, 10 January 2020​ Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said $1 billion in funding to repair key infrastructure across NSW impacted by bushfires could benefit local regions. “It is vital to start the recovery process as soon as possible, and a big part of that is ensuring we repair the state’s infrastructure, which supports our local communities,” Ms Cooke said. “This funding will ensure that work can begin as soon as possible to repair the infrastructure, and that in

​​Friday, 10 January 2020​ Residents, farmers and communities impacted by horrific fires across the region over the last few weeks will be able to immediately access disaster assistance, Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke announced today Ms Cooke welcomed the speedy moves by the State and Commonwealth Governments to provide further financial assistance to those impacted within the fire affected areas. “The fires have been absolutely devastating, but it’s a comfort to many th

​​Friday, 10 January 2020​ A fodder distribution point has been opened today at Adelong to provide landholders impacted by the Dunns Road and Green Valley fires with emergency fodder for their livestock. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said with active fires still burning in the area, the NSW Government is choosing to set up fodder distribution points which are safe and central for landholders. “Landholders needing assistance with services including emergency fodder and

​​Thursday, 9 January 2020​ The Rural Fire Service office in Tumut has seen its fair share of politicians over the course of the latest bushfires, but only one has been spending her days in the kitchen. Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and her friend Nicole Sanderson popped into the RFS headquarters last Monday evening and asked if there was anything they could do to help. “We popped down that evening, just to see how everything was operating, and offered to support in any