Grants of up to $50,000 are available for primary producers in the Parkes electorate that have been impacted by the November floods.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said local farmers across the Parkes electorate have been hit especially hard by flooding and severe storms.

“Just as they were on the cusp of what was to be a record-breaking harvest, our farmers were dealt another cruel blow after years of compounding disasters – from the drought to bushfires, a mice plague and a global pandemic,” Mr Coulton said.

“Many crops were washed away, while others were significantly downgraded, resulting in millions of dollars in losses for our farmers.

“I’m pleased that eligible primary producers will now have access to grants of up to $50,000 to help them get back on their feet.”

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The Australian and New South Wales Governments are jointly committing more than $80 million to make assistance immediately available for eligible primary producers in the Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cobar, Coonamble, Dubbo, Gilgandra, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Lachlan, Moree Plains, Narrabri, Narromine, Walgett, Warren and Warrumbungle local government areas and the Unincorporated Area of NSW.

Primary producers will be able to access grants for recovery and reinstatement activities, including salvaging crops and repairing damaged farm infrastructure and equipment.

“These grants will enable eligible primary production enterprises to access $10,000 up-front to help with initial recovery costs, and a further $40,000 to continue repairing the damage to their property, if required,” Mr Coulton said.

“I encourage farmers impacted by the recent flooding to apply so they can get back to operating as soon as possible.”

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.

To find out more and apply for a primary producer grant, visit https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/disaster-recovery-grants

Background

Recovery Grants for primary producers:

• The primary producer recovery grants of up to $50,000 are designed to provide short-term targeted assistance for recovery and reinstatement activities, including salvaging crops and repairs to damaged farm infrastructure (e.g. fencing) and equipment.
• To be eligible for the grant, primary producers must derive 50 per cent of their income from primary production.
• The grants will be administered by the Rural Assistance Authority.

Other assistance available under jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) may include:

• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply)
• Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations, and
• Freight subsidies for primary producers.

Disaster assistance is available in the 53 local government areas of Bathurst, Bega Valley, Blayney, Blue Mountains, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Broken Hill, Cabonne, Cobar, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Cowra, Dubbo, Eurobodalla, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn-Mulwaree, Greater Hume, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Inverell, Kyogle, Lachlan, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Mid-Western, Moree Plains, Muswellbrook, Narrabri, Narromine, Oberon, Orange, Parkes, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Upper Hunter, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Weddin and Wentworth and Unincorporated Area of NSW.