Natural Disaster Assistance Schemes

Local Government Areas declared natural disasters are available for Natural Disaster Assistance Schemes. More information on Current Natural Disaster Declarations.

The following schemes are available under the NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements. 

Personal Hardship and Distress Assistance

The Ministry for Police and Emergency Services can provide disaster relief grants to eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household items have been destroyed or damaged by a natural disaster. People with limited financial resources and no insurance may be eligible for assistance for essential household items and structural repairs to the home.

Inquiries about the disaster relief grants and the eligibility criteria may be made by calling 1800 018 444. 

Ministry for Police and Emergency Services

Primary Producers - Loans

Loans of up to $130,000 are available (subject to certain eligibility criteria), at a concessional interest rate for those in urgent need. These loans may be used to meet carry-on requirements and the replacement and repair of damage not covered by insurance.

The NSW Rural Assistance Authority administers this scheme. Inquiries should be directed to the Authority on 1800 678 593.

Rural Assistance Authority website

Primary Producers - Transport subsidies

 

Transport freight subsidies of up to 50 per cent on the carriage of livestock and fodder are available to help primary producers. The maximum subsidy available is $15,000 per annum.

Inquiries should be made to the nearest Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) office. For general enquires, call (02) 6391 3242.  

Livestock Health and Pest Authorities website

Small business

Loans of up to $130,000 are available at a concessional rate to small businesses affected by disasters and which meet certain eligibility criteria. This finance is available to those unable to obtain assistance through normal channels.

The NSW Rural Assistance Authority administers this scheme. Inquiries should be directed to the Authority on 1800 678 593.

Rural Assistance Authority website

Assistance for Councils

Grants are available to meet the additional costs of emergency work to restore essential services, including the provision of emergency levee banks, which are in excess of normal operations. Grants are available to meet 100 per cent of eligible emergency works and 75 per cent of eligible restorations works up to $116,000 with 100 per cent cost recovery beyond that level.

The Department of Finance and Services (NSW Public Works) administers this assistance. The contact person is Stuart Miller (02) 9372 8871.

Public Works website

 

Grants are available to help Councils to permanently restore roads and bridges to pre-disaster standards. These grants meet 75 per cent of the first $116,000 expenditure and 100 per cent beyond that level. This assistance is administered by the NSW Roads and Maritime Services. The contact person is Peter McMahon (02) 8588 5480.

NSW Roads and Maritime Services website

 

Trustees of Parks and Reserves

Provided the facilities concerned constitute "public assets", grants may be made available to those parties (e.g. trustees) responsible for managing Crown Land, parks and reserves, who do not have the financial capacity to meet restoration costs from their own resources.

Department of Primary Industries - Catchments and Lands Division administers this scheme. The contact person is Helen Muldoon on (02) 8258 7424.

Crown Land website

 

Sporting Clubs

A special scheme is available to assist sporting clubs in meeting the costs of restoration of essential club facilities that have been damaged or destroyed. The assistance is made available to those clubs which do not have the financial capacity to meet restoration costs from their own resources, but which have the capacity to repay any loan that may be granted.

Under these arrangements the maximum assistance available is $12,000, including a grant of up to $2,000 and the balance by way of repayable advance with interest.

NSW Treasury administers this scheme. The public enquiry number is (02) 9228 5181. This finance is available to those unable to obtain assistance through normal channels.

Churches and Voluntary Non-profit organisations

Loan assistance is available to churches and voluntary non-profit organisations for the restoration of essential facilities that have been damaged or destroyed. Eligible groups will usually perform a service for the community or environment and are funded by grants or donations.

Non-profit organisations that perform a commercial function, charge a fee for a service or represent commercial or industrial groups, e.g. industry bodies are not eligible for assistance. These organisations can recover costs from their members or through fees. As with other schemes, assistance is only available to those organisations which do not have the financial capacity to meet restorations costs from their own resources, insurance and are unable to obtain assistance through normal channels. Advances are subject to a maximum of $25,000 at a concessional interest rate per annum.

NSW Treasury administers this scheme. The public enquiry number is (02) 9228 5181.

Motor Vehicle Stamp Duty Relief

Duty relief on motor vehicles is available.   If you replace a comprehensively insured vehicle that was written off as a result of a declared natural disaster, you may be eligible for a refund of duty paid on the registration of the replacement vehicle.  

Details of eligibility requirements, application forms and a list of declared natural disaster areas are available at www.osr.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 139 814.

Office of State Revenue website

 

Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Arrangements

The above Schemes are eligible for Australian Government financial assistance, usually by way of partial reimbursement of actual expenditure, under Australian Government Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. Under the cost sharing formula, NSW pays for the first $134.9 million of natural disaster costs in 2011-12, and can claim from the Australian Government half of all eligible Personal Hardship and Distress costs within this first threshold. The Australian Government then matches NSW expenditure for costs between $134.9 million, and $236.1 million and beyond that covers three quarters of all costs.

 

Other assistance

Insurance

If you have a query relating to insurance you can call the Insurance Council on 1300 444 557. This service is available to all.