Natural Disaster Relief Grants Program (Australia)

Purpose

• The NSW Government established the Natural Disaster Relief Grant program (the Program) following AGRN 1212 – NSW East Coast Severe Weather from 18 May 2025 and AGRN 1198 – Tropical Cyclone Alfred from 3 March 2025.
• The purpose of the Program is to provide shortterm targeted assistance to eligible primary producers and primary production enterprises impacted by the eligible disasters for cleanup, removal of debris, disposal and/or replacement of dead livestock and reinstatement in cases where the impact has been severe and could result in production and viability being disrupted beyond the current season.

Objectives 

• The objectives of the Program are to lower disruption in affected areas and help eligible primary producers and primary production enterprises to recover by contributing to recovery costs.

Scope

• The scope and types of initiatives the grant opportunity aims at includes:
  • cleanup and reinstatement of eligible infrastructure, disposing of damaged materials, crops and/ or plants, restoration of pastures, and treating injured livestock.

Funding Information

• Total grant value
  • The total available Program funding amount is $164.3 million, as listed in the Grant Program Details.
  • Grants of up to $25,000 are available, as listed in the Grant Program Details.
  • You may only claim a grant to the value of valid tax invoices (exclusive of GST) up to the maximum grant amount of $25,000. d. Eligible primary producers impacted by AGRN 1212 or AGRN 1198 will be limited to a total grant of up to $25,000 under one event.
• Initial application
  • An initial amount of up to $5,000 is available to approved applicants.
  • Photographic evidence of the direct damage is required to support an initial claim. At least one and no more than 5 photographs must be provided.
• Subsequent claim
  • A subsequent amount of up to $20,000 is available.
  • Full proof of payment is required (i.e. valid tax invoices) to support subsequent claims. This evidence must also include any amounts claimed under the initial claim.
  • To claim eligible invoices the dates for evidenced damage for AGRN 1198 must be from the 3 March 2025 onwards and AGRN 1212 must be from 18 May 2025 onwards. Claims must adhere to the date requirements as set out in (c).

Outcomes

• The required outcomes of the Program are that eligible primary producers and primary production enterprises have cleaned up, removed debris, disposed of dead livestock and commenced or completed other reinstatement activities following an eligible disaster.

Eligible Locations 

• You and/or your primary production enterprise must be located within the LGAs listed in Attachment A.
• You may also be eligible for a grant if your primary production enterprise is located outside the defined disaster area for the event:
  • but is carried on at least sometimes regularly in the area and
  • plant or equipment of the primary production enterprise situated in the defined disaster area has been damaged or livestock has died due to the eligible disaster.

Eligibilty Criteria

• To be eligible for the Natural Disaster Relief Grant, you must meet the eligibility requirements set out in the program guidelines and summarised below:
  • you are a primary producer or have a primary production enterprise and operate as a sole trader, partnership, trust or private company in NSW
  • you are a primary producer or have a primary production enterprise and hold a Class A Aquaculture Permit under the Fisheries Management Act 1984 authorising an aquaculture lease area of at least 1 hectare
  • you hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) that was active at the time of the event
  • you are registered as a primary producer with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
  • at least one owner contributes part of their labour to the primary production enterprise
  • the enterprise is located in a LGA declared under AGRN 1212 or AGRN 1198 and suffered direct damage as a result of the disaster event
  • you intend to re-establish or continue operations within the same LGA
  • in at least one of the last five financial years, at least 50% of your total income must have come from primary production, with a minimum of $20,000 in gross primary production income before taxes.

For more information, visit RAA.