Flood Recovery Grants for Primary Producers in Australia

Deadline: 9-Dec-22

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania is now inviting applications for its Flood Recovery Grants for Primary Producers to up to $25,000 are available to support Tasmanian primary producers impacted by the October flooding with clean-up and restoration activities.

The objective of this assistance measure, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Tasmanian Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, is to assist with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of primary producers that have suffered direct damage as a direct result of the Severe Storm Event in October 2022 (AGRN 1038). The severe weather event significantly impacted parts of 17 municipalities across Northern Tasmania, primarily Break O’Day, Burnie, Central Coast, Central Highlands, Circular Head, Devonport, Dorset, Flinders, George Town, Kentish, Latrobe, Launceston, Meander Valley, Northern Midlands, Waratah-Wynyard, West Coast and West Tamar.

Primary producers play an integral part in local economies and communities, and this assistance must contribute towards minimising disruption in the affected area and assisting the community to recover.

Funding Information

The maximum grant amount available is $25 000. There are two Tiers.
- An initial one-off amount of up to $2 500 (Tier 1) is available. To support an initial claim evidence of direct damage is required. For example, photographs, quotations, tax invoices or official receipts.
- A subsequent one-off amount of up to $22 500 (Tier 2) is available. To support subsequent claims full evidence of payment is required. This evidence of payment must also include any amounts claimed under the initial (Tier 1) claim if not already provided.
- Multiple applications can be made up to the maximum grant amount available under the Program.
- Where an applicant is approved for funding under $2 500 (Tier 1) on the supply of a quote and does not seek further payment under Tier 2, the NRE Tas may request the applicant provide evidence of payment within 12 months of receiving the Tier 1 grant for reconciliation, acquittal and transparency purposes.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a grant an applicant must meet all the eligibility criteria be assessed as eligible for Tier one,
- Meet the definition of a primary producer (refer to Taxation Ruling TR 97/11),
- Devote part of their labour to the primary production enterprise;
- Derive at least 50 per cent of their gross income from primary production;
  - An applicant may also be eligible for a grant if the applicant derives at least 50 per cent of their total gross income from primary production and value-added products (e.g. wine) made directly from raw produce grown by the applicant
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the disaster;
- Have a primary production enterprise that is located in the defined area for the eligible disaster and have 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;
- Intend to re-establish the primary production enterprise in the same community, region or sector requested;
- Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the applications; and
- For costs relating to activities listed in section 3, provide satisfactory evidence of loss or damage.
An applicant may also be eligible for a Primary Producer Emergency Recovery 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; and
- Property, plant or equipment of the primary production enterprise situated in the defined disaster area has been damaged as a result of the eligible disaster.
Where two or more independent and separately owned and registered primary producers operate from the same property, each primary producer may receive the maximum available grant amount providing applicants can demonstrate that:
- They are independent and separately owned and registered with their own ABN from the other primary producer(s) on that property;
- They are eligible for the grant in their own right (including the requirement that they derive at least 50 per cent of their gross income from the primary production enterprise stated in clause 4.1;
- They are claiming for different expenses to the other primary producer(s) who are operating on the same property; and
- The expenses that they are claiming are essential to the operation of their primary production business.
Where an applicant’s income from primary production is less than 50 per cent of their total income, the applicant may nonetheless be eligible for a grant if it can be demonstrated that:
- In the ordinary course of business, the applicant would meet that requirement, but:
  - Their primary production income is currently reduced due to seasonal conditions; and/or
  - Due to long lead times to full production, the applicant expects to earn such an amount of income within a threeto-eight-year period, taking into account the nature of the industry