Extraordinary Disaster Recovery Grants for Primary Producers (Australia)

The objective of this assistance measure, provided under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, is to support communities to recover after an eligible disaster.

The Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Grants Scheme (Scheme) provides an exceptional circumstances grant to primary producers to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of primary production enterprises that have suffered direct damage as a result of an eligible disaster.

Funding Information

• The maximum exceptional circumstances grant amount is $75,000.
  • An initial amount of up to $10,000 is available (an initial claim). To support an initial claim evidence of the direct damage such as photographs, quotations, tax invoices and official receipts is required.
  • A subsequent amount of up to $65,000 is available (a subsequent claim). To support subsequent claims full evidence of payment is required. (This evidence must also cover any amounts claimed under the initial claim if not already provided).

Uses of the Funds

• Grants are provided to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of the primary production enterprise. This includes:
  • engaging a tradesperson to conduct a safety inspection of damage to a property, premises or equipment;
  • hiring or leasing equipment or materials to clean a property, premises or equipment;
• purchasing equipment or materials to clean a property, premises or equipment if QRIDA is satisfied:
  • the equipment or materials are not ordinarily available for hire or lease (Examples – cleaning chemicals, gloves, masks, brooms, mops, shovels or buckets); or
  • the equipment is or the materials are reasonably necessary for cleaning the property, premises or equipment and are not readily available for hire or lease. (In this instance assistance towards purchase is available to the assessed hire or lease cost of the item being purchased).
• employing a person to clean a property, premises or equipment if –
  • the cost would not ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the eligible disaster; or
  • the cost exceeds the cost of employing a person to clean the property, premises or equipment that would ordinarily have been incurred in the absence of the eligible disaster;
  • removing and disposing of debris or damaged goods and material;
  • repairing a building or repairing or replacing fittings in a building, if the repair or replacement is essential for resuming operation of the primary production enterprise. (Funding is not available for repairs to a building that is used as a dwelling, unless it is used for carrying on the primary production enterprise, for example staff accommodation);
  • purchasing, hiring or leasing equipment or materials that are essential for immediately resuming operation of the primary production enterprise; and
  •  any of the following –
    • repairing or reconditioning essential plant or equipment;
    • repairing or replacing fencing on a property, other than to the extent, the cost may be recovered under other assistance from the Commonwealth or State;
    • purchasing fodder, other than to the extent, the cost may be recovered under other assistance from the Commonwealth or State;
    • maintaining the health of livestock;
    • replacing the dead livestock;
    • repairing or restoring fields;
    • salvaging crops, grain or feed;
    • replacing lost or damaged plants if the replacement is essential for immediately resuming operation of the primary production enterprise;
    • replacing essential water that has been used for firefighting; and
    • carting water

Eligibility Criteria 

• To be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant, the applicant must:
  • be a primary producer;
  • hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster;
  • have a primary production enterprise that is located in the defined area for the eligible disaster that has suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster;
  • have been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster;
  • be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application;
  • intend to re-establish the primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster.
• An applicant may also be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant if both of the following apply:
  • The applicant’s primary production enterprise is located outside the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster but is carried on at least sometime on a regular basis in the area.
  • Plant or equipment of the primary production enterprise situated in the defined disaster area has been damaged as a result of the eligible disaster.

For more information, visit Australian Government.