Bushfire Recovery And Assistance
Special Disaster Grant for Primary Producers
The Special Disaster Grant is available to Primary Producers to help pay for costs of clean-up and other emergency measures including disposing of dead stock, and rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure.
The fund can be used for:
- Hiring, leasing or purchase of equipment and/or materials to undertake clean-up
- Reconditioning/repairing essential plan and equipment
- Salvaging crops, grain, feed, fertiliser and timber
- Health assessment, treatment and maintenance for livestock, poultry and aquaculture species
- Purchase of fodder, grain, and feeds for livestock and poultry and supplementary pollen or pollen substitute
- Replacement of essential water used for firefighting purposes
Are you eligible
- Be a primary producer
- Your enterprise must be located in a defined area that has suffered direct damage
- Intend to re-establish the primary primary production enterprise
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/special-disaster-grant-bushfires
Your local Rural Financial Counsellor can assist with your bushfire recovery plans.
Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy
This subsidy covers 50% of the total freight costs to a maximum of $15,000 per enterprise per financial year associated with transporting fodder for stock, stock to and from agistment, stock to sale/slaughter, stock drinking water and domestic water.
Are you eligible
- Be a primary producer
- 50% of gross income is from the primary production enterprise under normal seasonal circumstances
- You do not have gross off-farm assets exceeding $5,000,000
- Your enterprise is located within an eligible area
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/natural-disaster-transport-subsidy
Call RFCSCR to discuss your eligibility and information needed with your application.
Special Disaster Loan
Eligible primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits in LGAs affected by bushfires that have occurred since 31 August 2019 can now access special disaster loans of up to $500,000. There are two types of low interest loans available:
The Bushfire Working Capital Loan of up to $50,000 over five years with a two year interest free and repayment free period.
The Bushfire Recovery Loan of up to $500,000 over ten years, with a two year interest and payment free period.
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/special-disaster-loan-bushfires
Smoke Taint Recovery Grant
Wine grape producers in smoke-impacted wine regions can soon access up to $10,000 to support their recovery efforts.
Worth $5 million, this grants program targets businesses not currently activated for the $75,000 primary producer grants. Grants may be used to cover salaries, rent, wages, utilities, equipment, fuel, business development, building resiliency and/or financial advice.
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/smoke-taint-and-apple-recovery-grants
Apple Grower Grant
Bushfire-impacted apple growers will soon have access to a $31 million grants program to help progress their recovery efforts.
Grants of up to $120,000 per hectare will be available to eligible growers. They can be used to:
- replace stock, damaged irrigation infrastructure, poles, trellises, and netting
- clean-up damaged infrastructure or undertake site preparation not funded through other programs.
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/smoke-taint-and-apple-recovery-grants
