Recently the NSW Government announced additional assistance for all farmers in NSW to prepare for and manage the current severe drought.
Some of the new provisions include:
- A $250m top up to the Farm Innovation Fund which provides:
- Low interest loans of up to $250,000 to improve farm infrastructure & ensure long term productivity
- A one-off $50,000, 7 year interest free loan to allow fodder & grain to be brought in to sustain stock or install key water infrastructure
- Provisional loans for cattle farmers to biobank genetic material of their herd when forced to de-stock
- Existing farm Innovation Fund holders to have interest charges for 2017/18 & 2018/19 refunded
- Drought Transport Subsidies:
- $20,000 per eligible farm per year (up to $30,000 over 18 months from 01/01/2018 to 30/06/19) for freight expenses up to 50% of the full cost of transporting fodder, water for stock or livestock.
- LLS Rates waived for all landholders for 2019 to be applied automatically
- Registration Fees on Class 1 Agricultural vehicles waived for their next registration year
- Rebate on Fixed water charges of up to $4000 per licence for general security licence holders to be applied automatically
- Provision of 3 new Doppler Weather stations across the state
- Provisions to make it easier for farmers to manage high numbers of kangaroos
If you are interested in more information, please go to Drought Hub: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/droughthub
Or alternatively, follow these links:
7 year, $50,000 Loan: https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/assistance/drought-assistance-fund
Drought Transport Subsidy: https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/assistance/emergency-drought-relief
Registration Fee Relief: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-industry/heavy-vehicles/registration/drought-relief.html
Kangaroo Reduction & Doppler weather station information: https://www.nswnationals.org.au/nsw-government-drought-package/
Automatic Fee Relief (eg. LLS Rates, Fixed Water charges & Farm Innovation Fund Interest) information: https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/droughthub/emergency-drought-relief-package
