Mr Gee, who is also Minister for Regional Education and Decentralisation and Assistant Minister for Trade and Investment, was referring to the Federal Government Disaster Recovery Payments, which are available to eligible individuals and families affected by the recent bushfires in the Oberon Council area.

Payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child are available.

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Families will also be able to access an additional one-off payment of $400 per child.

"I requested that the Australian Disaster Recovery Payments be made available to those suffering in the Oberon region, so I am very pleased to see that this has now happened," Mr Gee said.

"The payments will help the people who have been worst hit to cover their immediate costs.

"There is also further assistance being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, including recovery grants of up to $75,000 for eligible primary producers and up to $50,000 for eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations.

"It's going to take time for life to return to normal and we'll be standing shoulder-to-shoulder with these communities until they're back on their feet.

"People should call the Department of Human Services to check their eligibility for the recovery payments."

It was a testing summer for Oberon, which included the continuation of the long-running drought, the enormous Green Wattle Creek bushfire burning close by and the closure of Jenolan Caves.

Jenolan, a major tourist attraction for the area, reopened only recently after the fires but has closed again due to flood damage in the valley.

For more information on the Federal Government assistance or to make a claim, visit www.humanservices.gov.au/disaster or call 180 22 66.

A Bushfire Recovery sheet is available at www.andrewgeemp.com.au/bushfire_recovery_information