Natural Disaster Assistance Guide for Primary Industries
Last updated: 25 May 2023
The impact of fires, floods and other natural disasters can affect primary producers beyond their own resilience levels, requiring assistance to recover personally and financially.
NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) and Local Land Services (LLS) coordinate and provide recovery assistance and advice to landholders and primary producers including commercial fishers, aquaculturists, foresters and other industries impacted by a natural disaster event.
The DPI provides information, resources and support on climate & emergency response and recovery for NSW primary producers. Visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/floods
English - Natural Disaster Assistance Guide PDF
Chinese - Natural Disaster Assistance Guide PDF
Chinese - Disaster Assistance Grants PDF
Reporting damage
NSW DPI asks any primary producer including commercial fishers and aquaculturists affected by the floods to fill out the natural disaster damage survey. DPI uses these surveys to determine the scale and severity of the impact and what assistance and resources are required, where. Surveys can be submitted any time and can be accessed on a phone or computer via www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/nda
Ag industry representatives can fill this in on behalf of farmers with their consent. Please note that this form cannot be used to request assistance.
Emergency assistance
Assistance | Details |
|---|---|
| Emergency accommodation (+ food & essential personal items) | For access to emergency accommodation (if you have no other viable option), food and essential personal items, attend an evacuation centre and register as an evacuee. The NSW Department of Communities and Justice also operates a 24/7 homelessness information and referral telephone service. For the closest evacuation centre P: 1800 152 152 |
Disaster Welfare Assistance Line | For information about evacuation centres, disaster welfare points, disaster relief grants for contents and structural repairs (available to low income earners with no insurance) or to register to find & reunite with family. P: 1800 018 444 |
Disaster Customer Care Service | For information on all available disaster assistance, or to replace documents such as licenses, permits and certificates. P: 13 77 88 |
Evacuation centres for animals and livestock | Note: Care of your animals remains your responsibility once you arrive at the animal evacuation centre – this includes adequate food and water supply, any toys and medication, as well as full time supervision. You also need to bring appropriate identification for your animals. For a full list of current Animal Evacuation Centres – where available - see https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/emergencies/floods/current-situation |
Recovery Information and support
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
Rural Recovery Support Service (RRSS) | A temporary service managed by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and funded by Resilience NSW, to provide assistance to primary producers and rural landholders who have been impacted by the recent floods. | P: 0448 077 684 |
| Recovery centres | Face-to-face support for NSW residents affected by the floods, including advice on accommodation, replacing lost documents, mental health and wellbeing, business support, clean-up, financial assistance, insurance and legal support. | See https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/recovery-centres for a list of locations and hours |
| Disaster Assistance Finder | Complete the Service NSW online questionnaire to receive a personalised list of available programs and services. | https://disasterassistance.service.nsw.gov.au/ |
| Recovery Connect and Disaster Assist | The National Recovery and Resilience Agency (NRAA) provides national leadership and strategic coordination in long-term disaster recovery, resilience and risk reduction. Search Recovery Connect and/or Disaster Assist to find out what support is available. | |
| Local Land Services | Technical assistance for primary producers. | P: 1300 795 299 |
| Support for farmers and primary producers after floods | Information compiled by Service NSW specifically for primary producers. | https://www.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-support/farmers-and-primary-producers |
| Clean-up advice and assistance | Guidance for flood-impacted households and businesses on dealing with water inundation, and staying safe during clean-up, as well as relevant assistance. | |
| Information for businesses | A list of available support for businesses as a result of the floods. | https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/storm-and-flood-assistance-businesses |
| Information on housing and rental assistance | Information/advice on accommodation and assistance if your home is lost or damaged. | https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/accommodation https://www.nsw.gov.au/floods/recovery/if-your-home-lost-or-damaged |
Financial assistance
Federal & State Government assistance
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment | A one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 for adults and $400 for children, who have been seriously injured, lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged, or the immediate family members of a person who has lost their life, as a direct result of the storms and floods. Note: An additional two weekly disaster payments are available for those in the Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Tweed LGAs. | Services Australia P: 180 22 66 |
| Disaster Relief Grant | ‘Always on’ assistance for eligible applicants in any emergency. Disaster Relief Grants are for low income, uninsured persons with limited financial resources, to replace essential household contents or to undertake essential structural repairs/rebuild activities. | Service NSW P: 13 77 88 Ask about the Disaster Relief Grant administered by Resilience NSW |
| Disaster Recovery Allowance | A short-term income support payment to assist employees, small businesses and farmers who can demonstrate loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster. | Services Australia P: 180 22 66 |
Special Disaster Grants – Primary Producers | Grant of up to $75,000 for eligibleprimary producers in disaster declared Local Government Areas (LGAs), designed to help pay for immediate clean-up and repairs to infrastructure. | Rural Assistance Authority P: 1800 678 593 https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/storm-and-flood-programs/sdg-february-2022 |
| Rural Landholders Grant | Grant of up to $25,000 for rural landholders and aquaculturists in disaster declared Local Government Areas (LGAs), who have holdings of at least 10ha or an aquaculture permit and receive at least $20,000 in income from primary production per annum. | Rural Assistance Authority P: 1800 678 593 |
Disaster Relief Loans | Low interest loans of up to $130,000 for primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster for continuity of the farm business and to replace and repair damage not covered by insurance. | Rural Assistance Authority P: 1800 678 593 https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/natural-disaster-transport-subsidy |
| Natural Disaster Transport Subsidy | Subsidy of up to $15,000 available to farmers affected by a declared natural disaster to cover costs of transporting fodder/water to an affected property, stock to sale or slaughter and stock to/from agistment. | Rural Assistance Authority
P: 1800 678 593
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/grants/natural-disaster-transport-subsidy |
Farm Household Support | An income support payment for farming families facing hardship. Eligible industries: Agricultural, horticultural, pastoral, apicultural or aquacultural | Farmer Assistance Hotline P: 132 316 https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/farm-household-allowance |
Disaster Recovery Allowance: short-term income support for 13 weeks | A short-term income support payment (for up to 13 weeks) to assist individuals whose income has been affected as a direct result of the storms and floods. | Services Australia P: 180 22 66 https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/nsw-floods-february-2022-disaster-recovery-allowance |
| Stamp duty relief | Stamp duty relief on the replacement of insured motor vehicles (including commercial vehicles) written off due to loss caused by a declared disaster. | Revenue NSW P: 1300 139 814 https://www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/taxes-duties-levies-royalties/motor-vehicle-duty/relief |
‘Back Home’ Grants | Grants of up to $20,000 per residential property to assist with urgent repairs, replacement of essential household goods, or rebuilding to restore to a habitable condition. Available to home owners or renters who aren't insured, or who haven't claimed the Disaster Relief Grant, in the LGAs of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Hawkesbury, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tweed Shire. | Service NSW P: 13 77 88 https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-flood-recovery-back-home-grant |
| Supply Chain Support Program 2022 | $22 million to support the recovery of processing businesses within the primary industry supply chains that were impacted by the February and March 2022 floods (disaster declaration AGRN 1012. Eligible applicants must be a business or co-operative that is a first receiver and processor in the supply or value chain of the aquaculture (including fisheries), horticulture (blueberries, macadamias, pecans, vegetables, tea tree), or agriculture (beef, dairy, soybeans, sugarcane, intensive livestock) industries. | https://www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/supply-chain-support-program |
Financial support agencies
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
Rural Financial Counselling Service | A free and impartial financial counselling service to help with financial planning and applying for assistance. Note: the northern region extends from Greater Sydney to the QLD border and west to Moree Plains; the southern/central region covers the rest of NSW. | North Eastern NSW Southern/Central Region |
| Rural Assistance Authority | NSW disaster assistance for primary producers:
| P: 1800 678 593 |
| Farm Household Contact Officer | Services Australia. | Farmer Assistance Line P: 132 316 |
Office of the NSW Small Business Commissioner | Small Biz Connect is a quality, personalised and highly subsidised business advisory program for small businesses in NSW, including agribusinesses. | P: 1300 134 359 https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/business-advice-and-support/about-business-connect |
Australian Taxation Office | Offers assistance with meeting tax obligations for businesses impacted by floods. | https://www.ato.gov.au/General/Dealing-with-disasters/In-detail/Specific-disasters/Floods/ |
Bank Support | Major financial institutions may offer flood relief for their customers. | Contact your bank |
Animal welfare and management
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
Local Land Services | On-going technical support including on-going livestock feeding advice. | P: 1300 795 299 |
Stock problems after a flood | Key information about looking after stock following a flood. | |
Drought and Supplementary Feed Calculator | Calculate and compare protein, energy and other components for different mixes of livestock feeds. You can use the calculator online, or download the app 'Drought Feed Calculator’. | |
Integrity Systems | Assistance with emergency NVDs, LPA advice and NLIS transfers. | P: 1800 683 111 |
Dairy support | Contact Dairy NSW. | P: 1800 270 778 |
Oyster Support | Advice and support. | DPI Aquaculture NSW Oyster Industry Extension Officer - Laura Stoltenberg |
Wildlife | Contact your local rescue group. |
Other Assistance
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
Disaster Response Legal Service NSW | Free legal assistance for NSW residents. | Legal Aid P: 1800 801 529 |
Insurance | Insurance Council of Australia has a comprehensive website providing help in disasters | https://insurancecouncil.com.au/consumers/help-in-disasters/ |
NSW Farmers Association | Updates on assistance available can be viewed on the NSW Farmers website. Contact Regional Services Managers with any issues or concerns. | P: 02 9478 1000 |
Road closures and travel advice | Up-to-date information on the latest road closures and real-time traffic conditions. |
Health and wellbeing
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency mental health support | Call 000 | |
Hotlines / Helplines | Lifeline | P: 13 11 14 |
Beyond Blue | P: 1300 224 636 | |
Mental health hotline (NSW Health 24/7) | P: 1800 011 511 | |
Mensline | P: 1300 789 978 | |
Kids helpline | P: 1800 551 800 | |
Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) | RAMHP provides a range of information services to individuals, communities and service providers to link rural and remote people to the help they need. | |
| Online resources | Head to Health An Australian Government website that offers multiple ways of searching for digital mental health resources. | https://www.headtohealth.gov.au |
| Beyond Blue | https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ | |
| Podcasts about disasters, trauma and mental health | https://www.crrmh.com.au/get-help-now/self-help-resources/podcasts/disasters-trauma-mental-health/ | |
| Rural Health Connect | Through Rural Health Connect individuals can speak to a psychologist from the comfort of their own home via video or phone. |
Charities and other support
Assistance | Details | Contact |
|---|---|---|
GIVIT is the NSW Government lead charity in co-ordinating donated items | If you have been impacted by the floods and require donated goods or services, or wish to pledge donated goods, services or cash, please register. | To register for assistance or donate https://www.givit.org.au/ |
Blaze Aid | Rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed. | P: 0418 990 267 |
The Salvation Army | Central NSW: Western NSW: North NSW: Southern NSW | P: 13 72 58 https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/disasters-and-emergencies/ |
St Vincent de Paul | Assistance with food & groceries, clothing, blankets & essentials. Bill assistance, interest free loans for household items & referral to other crisis providers. | P: 13 18 12 |
Rural Aid | Rural Aid provides critical support including water, fodder (hay), financial and counselling assistance to help farmers (primary producers) who endure natural disasters. | P: 1300 327 624 |
Lions Need for Feed | Donated fodder available through Lions. Register through website. | |
| Drought Community Outreach program | Rotary provide $500 vouchers to farming households affected by drought. Register at a local Drought Community Outreach program event. | Rotary
|
Keep COVID Safe
We all have a part to play in keeping NSW COVID safe. We’re asking everyone to ensure they are familiar with COVID-19 restrictions, to follow COVID safe best practice and always remain vigilant.
This includes:
- Stay home if you have any symptoms and get tested
- Check-in when you visit a venue, business or shop
- Stay 1.5 metres apart from others
- Wash your hands frequently
- Make sure your business has a COVID safe plan
The COVID-19 Home (nsw.gov.au) offers our producers a portal to information about COVID-19 and information relevant to our industry.
For further information on what to do in NSW, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/
