Medium size business support grant still not available for NSW flood victims
This man’s central-west business was smashed in last year’s floods. In March, $200k recovery grants were announced for 20-plus LGAs. But the Minns government hasn’t followed through.
NSW
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Business owners in country NSW hit by floods late last year have been forgotten about by the Minns government, which has failed to open up access to $200,000 recovery grants approved in January.
The grants for enterprises in at least 20 devastated local government areas (LGAs) were publicly announced by federal Labor’s emergency management minister Murray Watt and ministers of the then Perrottet state government in March, after the caretaker period had commenced prior to the NSW election.
But since winning power from the Coalition, NSW Labor has not opened the grants.
A source blamed complexities of the government changeover – and “human error”.
When The Daily Telegraph first raised the forgotten grants with the office of Regional NSW Minister Tara Moriarty last week, it was unable to say when the grants would be available, only that it would be “as soon as possible” and that the process was being “expedited”.
Ms Moriarty’s department was outraged at its own failure.
“Businesses deserved this funding months ago,” a spokeswoman said.
Senator Watt was dismayed when told that the federal funds had still to be made available.
“Businesses in the Central West deserve the support they were promised,” Mr Watt said.
One of the 20 LGAs referred to in the March grants announcement was Forbes, which suffered a major flood in November. Water inundated local business Frank Spice Autos. Owner Ron Spice estimated the damage bill was more than $500,000.
“It was shocking,” Mr Spice said. “It really hurt.”
He said he had heard that medium-sized business grants had been announced as an extension of assistance earlier made available in the Northern Rivers.
But when he rang Service NSW to apply, he was told the help was “on hold”.
“It was forgotten,” Mr Spice said. “In another six months it could have been too late.”
On Monday afternoon, a spokeswoman for the Department of Regional NSW said the grants would open in September.
When the Telegraph informed Mr Spice about this he said: “You’ve made my day. We’ll be going for the full $200,000.”
The department spokeswoman said “applications will open by early September 2023 and Service NSW business concierge staff will be contacting businesses over the coming weeks to ensure they are aware of the grant and to provide support with their applications.
“More information will be made available on the Service NSW website shortly,” she said.
In total, medium-sized businesses in 31 LGAs will be able to apply from next month, she added.
The LGAs are Balranald, Berrigan, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar, Cowra, Dubbo Regional, Edward River, Federation, Forbes, Griffith, Gunnedah, Hay, Junee, Lachlan, Leeton, Moree Plains, Murray River, Murrumbidgee, Narrabri, Narrandera, Parkes, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle and Wentworth.
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