NSW bushfires: $50m in government grants to help farmers
Farmers and small businesses in the worst-affected bushfire regions will receive “recovery grants” of as much as $15,000 each to begin rebuilding their lives. FIND OUT HOW TO GET YOURS
NSW
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Towns and farms devastated by the worst bushfires in decades will be thrown a $50 million lifeline under a record joint federal and state relief package.
Farmers and small businesses in the worst-affected regions will receive “recovery grants” of as much as $15,000 each.
Another $18.2 million will go towards mental health counselling services for victims and volunteers, grants for targeted community projects and assisting non-profit organisations.
With this season's bushfires having so far claimed six lives and destroying more than 600 homes, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the package would provide immediate relief to communities.
“The bushfires that have ravaged parts of NSW and Queensland have done untold damage to people’s lives, their communities and livelihoods,” he said. “To those who have lost loved ones, and those who have lost homes, Australians are thinking of you and you can be assured of the kindness, love and support of your fellow Australians at this difficult time. Our commitment is to stand with these communities throughout the recovery, not just now but in the weeks, months and years ahead.”
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, who will unveil the details of the $48.2 million bushfire recovery package with Natural Disaster and Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud at the NSW Rural Fire Service headquarters today, said the full impact of the fires was yet to be quantified.
She said the package will not only assist the long-term recovery effort of bushfire-affected communities but also the farming, business and non-profit sectors.
“The impact to communities has been evident over the last few weeks, however the extent of the impact to our farming and business sectors have not been fully quantified as these bushfires continue to burn,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We also know the emotional impact a disaster like this can have on communities, which is why we are committing $4.05 million to the mental health services.”
Mr Littleproud said the grants will enable businesses to re-open.
“The mental toll on the community, volunteers and emergency service staff can linger long after the fires and they will need ongoing support,” he said.
The funding will be rolled out across the fire-devastated regions of the NSW North Coast, Mid-North Coast and the Northern Tablelands.
Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said firefighters were heading in to a third week of fighting the blazes, with almost 50 still burning across the state.
RFS volunteers battling the Gospers Mountain blaze took advantage of the calmer weather yesterday. Veteran volunteer Bert Clarke, 68, said they were focusing on property protection ahead of expected hotter weather.
To apply for a recovery grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit raa.nsw.gov.au.
Originally published as NSW bushfires: $50m in government grants to help farmers