Financial Assistance & Grants
Below is information related to the range of financial assistance and grants that are available to landholders and groups post bushfire, as at May 2009. This includes some detail about the types of assistance provided with website links and who to go to for more information.
If you are seeking help other than ‘financial assistance and grants’ please refer to the ‘How to Get Help’ section on this website.
Bushfire Assistance - Primary Producers
Rural Finance is administering on behalf of the Victorian and Australian Governments, Clean-up and Restoration Grants and Concessional Loans to primary producers whose properties have been physically affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. See details below.
Bushfire Assistance Loan
Concessional loans are available to eligible primary producers who have suffered losses as a result of physical bushfire damage to their property and who are assessed to be in need of financial assistance. Up to $200,000 is available over 15 years at 3.2% for the first 5 years. Each case will be assessed on its merits. They will need to demonstrate that the majority of their time and capital is devoted to the farming operation and in normal circumstances the major portion of their income is derived from the farm. The farming operation should have reasonable prospects of profitable trading in the future including a capacity to service borrowings. Adequate security will be required for any lending. Application fees will not apply. Click here for more details, a fact sheet and an application form.
Bushfire Supplementary Grant - Primary Producers
To apply for the second grant (in addition to the initial Clean-up & Restoration Grant of up to $5,000 – see below) of up to $20,000, click here for an application form. A detailed assessment of applications will be undertaken by a Rural Finance officer.
Clean-up & Restoration Grant
The Clean-up and Restoration Grant is a discretionary payment, and although not income tested, is based on the needs of the applicant which must be demonstrated through an assessment process. Primary producers must have suffered direct damage as a result of the 2009 bushfires in Victoria. This may include damage to farm buildings, crops, pasture, stock, fencing and/or tools of trade(e.g. equipment, plant). An eligible farmer is one who is registered with the Australian Taxation Office and:
• Has a right or interest in land for the purpose of primary production
• Contributes a significant part of his/her labour and capital to the farming enterprise; and
• Derives more than 51% of his/her individual income from the farming enterprise.
These grants provide a one-off grant of up to $5,000 to primary producers who have suffered direct physical damage as a result of bushfire for clean up, removal of debris, animal welfare and business restoration. Click here for more details, a fact sheet and application form.
Other Forms of Assistance
These grants are part of the overall recovery process and there may be other assistance, information or services available for affected landholders. To find out more information contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
Bushfire Assistance - Small Business
Rural Finance is administering on behalf of the Victorian and Australian Governments, Clean-up and Restoration Grants and Concessional Loans to small businesses whose properties have been physically affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires. See details below.
Bushfire Assistance Loan
Concessional loans are available to eligible small businesses that are assessed to be in need of financial assistance as a result of losses or damage caused by the physical impact of bushfire. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate that the business has reasonable prospects of trading profitably in the future including a capacity to service borrowings. Each case will be assessed on its merits. Up to $200,000 is available over 15 years at 3.2% for the first 5 years. Applicants may be sole owners, partnerships or owners of private companies where the major portion of their income is derived from the business and who substantially devote their time and capital to the conduct of the business. Any application for loan assistance will have regard for insurance recoveries and the financial resources available to affected applicants. Adequate security required for any lending. No application fees. Click here for more details, a fact sheet and an application form.
Bushfire Supplementary Grant - Small Business
To apply for the supplementary grant of up to $20,000 (in addition to the initial Clean-up & Restoration Grant of up to $5,000 - see below) click here for an application form and more details A detailed assessment of applications will be undertaken by a Rural Finance officer.
Clean-up & Restoration Grant
The Clean-up and Restoration Grant provide a one-off grant to small businesses who have suffered direct physical damage as a result of the 2009 bushfires in Victoria for clean-up, removal of debris and business restoration. They comprise two components, an initial grant of up to $5,000 and a supplementary grant of up to $20,000. The Clean-up and Restoration Grant is a discretionary payment, and although not income tested, is based on the needs of the applicant which must be demonstrated through an assessment process. Small businesses must have less than 20 full time (or equivalent) employees. Click here for more details about the initial clean up grants, a fact sheet and application form.
Business Relief Fund
Initial grants of up to $5,000 are available from VECCI, with the potential for consideration of a supplementary grant of up to $20,000. The grants are to
• To assist businesses that are suffering a substantial or complete loss of trade, even though their operations may not have been physically damaged or destroyed.
• Businesses with an ABN that employ less than 100 full time equivalent employees – priority to businesses employing up to 20 EFT.
• Have been operating a business in the affected area up to and including the date of the disaster.
More Information please contact Michelle Hayward (VECCI - Corporate Social Responsibility Manager) via phone 8662 5227, email: mhayward@vecci.org.au or Click here for more information.
Emergency Tools of Trade Grants for Employees
Eligible employees under the Emergency Tools of Trade Payment can receive up to $5,000, based on the cost of replacing tools of trade. You are eligible for the Emergency Tools of Trade Payment if, as a result of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, you have lost equipment vital to your trade and employment (including safety equipment) and are an employee working for a registered business. You are not eligible for this payment if you apply for and receive the Commonwealth/State National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement for businesses directly affected by the bushfires. Trades included are: roofers and fencers, hairdressers,hospitality and catering workers, waste and rubbish removalists, labourers. ABN not required. Call the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213 or Click here for more information, a fact sheet and an application form.
Fencing
Government will reimburse reasonable insurance excess to a maximum of four hundred dollars ($400) on all insured crown land boundary fences destroyed or damaged by bushfires (bushfire or fire suppression backburn) regardless of the tenure of the land where that fire originates.
• Government will repair or pay 100% restoration cost of fences damaged on private land as a result of machinery used in control of bushfires (includes damage to fences for emergency vehicles access).
• Government will fully fund the rehabilitation of fire control lines established by DSE or CFA as part of Incident Management during bushfire suppression activity regardless of the origin of the bushfire (public/crown or private land).
Click here for a fact sheet and more details.
Helen Macpherson Smith Trust - Bushfires Grants Fund
Purpose of Special Fund
In response to the bushfire tragedy, the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust has established a special $2 million Victorian Bushfires Grants Fund.
Who can Apply are available to local and state-wide charitable organisations specifically in support of capacity-rebuilding projects and programs to restore the community life and lifestyles of the damaged Victorian townships. To be eligible for a grant, community organisations must be classified by the ATO as one of the following:
· a Charitable Institution
· or a Public Benevolent Institution
· or a Heath Promotion Charity
Purpose of Grants are to support and facilitate the communities’ own recovery in the post-disaster era, once the immediate emergency aid programs are completed, and government and private sector infrastructure projects are underway. Our grants are not focussed on supplying emergency aid, which the trustees regard as the responsibility of government and the major charities that receive public donations.
Preferred Grants
· Support for social, education, or health programs which were in existence prior to the fires, but have not been reinstated due to a lack of community capacity or infrastructure
· Support for the development of new programs or projects designed to help rebuild the lifestyle of a ravaged community
· Contribution towards additional equipment, furniture and fittings, materials and other resources used for charitable purposes, such as aged and disability care, education or health
· Contributions towards capital appeals and fit-outs will be restricted in order to spread benefits across many of the affected communities
· Capacity-building programs to assist eligible charitable organisations to meet new community needs emerging from the bushfire tragedy
Closing Dates for Applications
· 30 September 2009
· 31 January 2010
· 30 April 2010
Grants normally would cover programs or projects for the duration of one year, but grants for a period of up to three years will be considered if deemed appropriate.
Rural Properties Recovery Assistance Payment
This payment is available to assist individual rural landowners in the bushfire affected areas who have suffered hardship and who have an increased need due to the damage or destruction of rural and farming property infrastructure. Click here for more details, a fact sheet and application form.
Eligibility if you own a property of 5 hectares or more in the bushfire affected area that has suffered damage or destruction. Assistance Available if eligible you will receive a $5,000 payment. Is there a restriction on how the payment can be spent? The payment is to be used for the replacement or repair of lost or damaged assets.
Click here for an application form and send it to Rural Finance Corporation (via email admin@ruralfinance.com.au www.ruralfinance.com.au or telephone 1800 255 925).
More information call the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund on 1800 180 213 or email vicbushfireappealfund@dhs.vic.gov.au
Special Circumstances Bushfire Relief Grant
The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments are providing further assistance measures for businesses and primary producers directly impacted by the 2009 bushfires. A one-off grant of $5,000 is available to small businesses and farmers that have otherwise missed out on a business recovery grant on the basis of the requirement to earn 51 per cent of their income from that business. These grants are available for small business owners who:
· Earn less than $100,000 a year from other income sources
· Have not already received other bushfire assistance available through the Australian and Victorian Governments or certain property related payments through the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.
Contact Rural Finance on 1800 255 925 or Click here for a fact sheet and an application form.
Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Disaster Relief Fund
Up to $5,000 grants is available to farmers who have suffered loss as a result of the fires, with grants available depending on applications and the funds remaining. Applications will be reviewed by the VFF’s Disaster Relief Fund Committee and approval will be determined based on the information provided by the applicant. Key considerations will be the level of reliance the applicant has on the income from the farm and the extent of the damage incurred by the applicant as a result of the 2009 bushfires. Farmers need to be a member of the VFF to be eligible to apply for the grant.
For more information contact the VFF on 1300 882 833 or to download the VFF Disaster Relief Fund Application Form see the VFF website http://www.vff.org.au/main/
Victorian Government Grants
The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) offers a range of grants for fire-affected communities – see below for details.
Emergency Volunteer Support Grants - Bushfire Relief (up to $20,000)
Funding of up to $20,000 is available for community not-for-profit organisations in Victoria providing volunteers to work in fire-affected communities. Apply online or download an application form.
Victorian Volunteer Small Grants - Bushfire Relief (up to$5,000)
Funding of up to $5,000 for community not-for-profit organisations in Victoria providing volunteers to work in fire-affected communities. Apply online or download an application form.
Bushfire Wildlife Volunteer Grants Program
The Victorian Government will provide up to $350,000 in grants for to assist volunteer shelter operators, wildlife rehabilitators, foster carers and veterinarians. For more details phone 13 61 86.