Bega Valley Shire mayor Kristy McBain said Stage 1 of the relief effort will help residents registered as having destroyed or uninhabitable homes, including those who were renting their property.

“We’ve already had some application forms back, with some money to go out at the end of the week,” she said.

“I don’t want to rush the process.”

The fund has raised over $1million dollars, with generous donations still flowing in from across the state, with Stage 2 to be finalised in coming weeks.

Cr McBain was in Tathra on Tuesday to meet with staff from the Steampacket Hotel at Nelligen who raised over $12,000 for the fund on Easter Saturday alone.

“The idea came from one of our locals, who said we should do something for Tathra,” the hotel’s Melissa Alvey said.

“We had to present the money here, so we could see what actually happened.

“Without all the local businesses of Nelligen and Batemans Bay, none of this would have been possible.

“We are from a small town so we know what it’s like.”