As our community continues to recover from some of the biggest floods in our regions recorded history, RDA Northern Rivers is working to provide information to assist our communities as we move forward from this unprecedented flood event.
The Northern Rivers community has worked tirelessly throughout this flood emergency and we commend you all for your resilience and strength at this time of need. We also recognise that we can’t do it alone. The information on this page aims to support the community to find the support they need.
We will continue to update this information as it becomes available.
Financial Assistance
Support and Information
Council Updates
Donations
RDA Northern Rivers welcomes the NSW Government’s announcement of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. We acknowledge the hard work and commitment from our local community that has been instrumental in its establishment.
The 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry is open for submissions until 20 May 2022. The Inquiry welcomes submissions from all flood-affected residents, emergency and support personnel, organisations and the general public. Their stories and photographs are valuable to informing the Inquiry’s work.
Financial Assistance
A summary of available financial assistance for individuals and businesses can be downloaded here.
Business and Primary Industry
Businesses can apply for financial assistance via the Service NSW website. Affected businesses may be eligible for up to $50,000 assistance through the NSW Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant. Find out more here.
The Australian Taxation Office has announced support including extra time to pay tax or lodge tax returns, activity statements or other obligations, and are prioritising any refunds owed to you.
The jointly Commonwealth and NSW Government funded Northern Rivers Business Support Package will provide $742 million to support primary industry, businesses, rural landholders, councils and residents affected by the catastrophic flooding event across New South Wales, including:
- Support for medium-sized (21-199 full time employees) businesses ($20 million), with grants up to $200,000 available to assist with clean-up, essential repairs and replacement that are not covered by existing insurance.
- Support for eligible small businesses that have suffered a 40 per cent or more downturn in their income ($80 million), with grants of up to $10,000 to help meet their operating costs so they can survive during the period in which the local economy is depressed.
- $35 million for Rural Landholder Grants of up to $25,000, for impacted landholders state-wide, who are not eligible under existing support mechanisms, including insurance or special disaster assistance, and are able to demonstrate losses and damage beyond the vicinity of the residential dwelling.
- $150 million for the primary industry sector targeted at assisting primary producers to protect supply chains, and boost recovery and rebuilding efforts.
- $142 million to provide assessment of properties and the demolition of those found to be uninhabitable across disaster-declared LGAs.
- An extension of the Recovery Grants currently available for primary producers, small businesses and councils in further disaster-declared LGAs.
The Commonwealth Government will also solely provide the following assistance in the Northern Rivers as part of the fourth phase package:
- Up to $50 million for large businesses and major employers in key industries to provide immediate financial assistance in the Northern Rivers.
Support and financial counselling is available from the Rural Financial Counselling Service. There are people on the ground offering direct support in the Northern Rivers Business Hub located at the Southern Cross University Enterprise Lab.
Information about financial support for individuals, councils and small business is available from the NSW Small Business Commissioners website.
Freight subsidies are available for primary producers – up to 50% of the cost on the carriage of livestock and fodder. Call 1800 678 593 to apply.
The NSW Government has announced $67 million for education funding, providing payments of $1,000 to teachers to replace lost classroom resources and $500 to students (parents) to replace lost school supplies. Read more here.
Grants Links
Business and primary industry
February March 2022 Storm and Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant
Up to $50,000 available to eligible small businesses. Businesses applying for this funding are strongly advised to ready the application guide and ensure you have all the necessary documentation ready before you start the online application.
Northern Rivers Medium Sized Business Grant
Up to $200,000 is available for medium sized businesses and not for profits with 21 to 200 employees to help pay for the costs of flood clean-up and reinstatement of operations.
$10,000 Small Business Grant
If your small business or not-for-profit organisation in northern NSW was impacted by storms and floods in February and March 2022, you may be eligible for a one-off $10,000 small business northern flood grant.
Primary Producers Special Disaster Grant – NSW Severe Weather & Flooding February 2022 Onwards
Up to $75,000 available for eligible primary producers in declared disaster areas.
Disaster Relief Loans of up to $130,000 are available for Small Business and Primary Producers through the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.
Farm Investment Loans of up to $2 million for primary production enterprises through the Rural Investment Corporation.
Rural Landholder Grant – 22 February 2022 Onwards can provide up to $25,000 for impacted landholders and aquaculturists.
An overview of grants and loans available to businesses, primary producers and landholders is available from the Service NSW website.
Individuals, families and community
Information about financial assistance to individuals and families is available from NSW Government website.
Community Wellbeing and Resilience Initiative
Local organisations can apply for $150,000 to $250,000 through Healthy North Coast to deliver community wellbeing and resilience-building initiatives in locations that have been impacted by natural disaster – Closes 31 December 2022
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides a lump sum payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child (with an additional two payments available for heavily impacted areas in Clarence Valley, Richmond Valley, Lismore, Ballina, Kyogle, Byron and Tweed LGA’s). Information about how to apply for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is available here.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance of up to $629.50 per fortnight is a short term payment to help you if a disaster directly effects your income. Information about how to apply for the Disaster Recovery Allowance is available here.
The NSW Disaster Relief Grant for individuals provides financial assistance to individuals who’s home or essential household contents were damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster, are on a low income and do not have insurance or their insurance does not cover the damage.
Flood Recovery Rental Assistance Program
The flood recovery rental support payment helps NSW residents in highly impacted suburbs who are unable to live in their home due to the February and March 2022 storms and floods. The one off payment is to help pay for short term accommodation – Closes 24 June 2022
The Temporary Housing Support Package includes temporary housing options for rural land owners, mobile motor homes, temporary accommodation in recreation clubs and access to the Red Cross housing brokerage service. Register to be notified about support options as they become available.
Back Home grants have now opened for applications. Back Home grants will provide one off $20,000 grants for owner occupiers or $15,000 to landlords and $5,000 to renters. Applications may be submitted until 20 April 2023.
The jointly Australian and NSW Government funded Property Assessment and Demolition Program will meet the full cost of demolishing structures that are uninhabitable and beyond economical repair. You can register for the program from the Service NSW website.
Support and Information
You can call 13 77 88 or visit service.nsw.gov.au to access:
- Accommodation advice
- Relevant charitable services
- Mental health and wellbeing services
- Emotional and trauma support after a flood
- Support for businesses
- Financial assistance
- Insurance and legal support
- Replacing lost ID
You can request flood clean-up and essential items via the Service NSW website.
The NSW Government disaster assistance website provides information and links to support for individuals, businesses, not for profit and community groups.
Resilience NSW has opened up recovery centres in areas where emergency evacuation orders have been lifted. Recovery centres provide direct access to services and support for flood affected communities.
Business NSW is making access to its Workplace Advice Line free to all business owners in NSW impacted by the current flood disaster. Call 13 29 59 between 8.30am and 5pm.
The Northern Rivers Business Hub is a joint initiative of Business NSW and Southern Cross University (SCU). The Hub, located in the Enterprise Lab at SCU is supporting impacted and displaced businesses with on site access to government services and business advisors. The space also provides hot desks (with access to wifi, printers and laptops if needed), meeting rooms, access to AV equipment and tea and coffee making facilities. For information or if you have questions email northernrivers@businessnsw.com or call 13 26 96
Liquor and Gaming NSW are providing support to licensees who have been affected by the floods with:
- replacement copies of destroyed licences and identification cards
- extensions to interim certificates reaching their 90 day limit
- replacement signage cost waivers or reductions
Contact by phone at 1300 024 715 or email contact.us@liquorandgaming.nsw.gov.au
More information about the recovery of identification, licenses and personal documents is available from the Service NSW website.
The Flood Relief Directory is a great resource with links to services and support from government, local organisations and community.
Flood Help Northern Rivers is a community created website run by Resilient Lismore (Lismore Helping Hands) that has information about community based support for flood recovery.
Further support is available through the following links
- Strengthening Business (through the AusIndustry Entrepreneurs Program)
- Regional Small Business Support Program
- NSW Business Concierge
Government announcements for long term flood recovery will be regularly updated the National Recovery and Resilience Agency website.
A complete list of available support is available in this downloadable document
Council Updates
Access to up to date information and links to services are available through your local LGA emergency/disaster dashboard. Emergency dashboards include links to Recovery Centre and donations information. For Disaster Dashboards follow the link to council website.
- Tweed Emergency Dashboard
- Byron Emergency Dashboard
- Lismore Disaster Dashboard
- Clarence Disaster Dashboard
- Richmond Valley Disaster Dashboard
- Kyogle Disaster Dashboard
- Ballina Disaster Dashboard
Donations
There are a number of organisations collecting donations to support the flood recovery.
Lismore City Council Flood Appeal (100% of donations to go to flood recovery)
Donations by direct deposit to:
Lismore City Council – Flood Appeal Account
BSB: 062 565
Account: 1086 4366
Red Cross Flood Appeal
Salvation Army Flood Appeal
Givit – For anyone looking to donate items, request specific items or look for items listed they are encouraged to use the GIVIT service
Evacuation centres across the region may also be receiving donations of food, clothing, bedding and other items. Please check in with your local evacuation centre to find out what is needed before delivering. Food distribution centres are also accepting donations of non-perishable food items (e.g. canned goods, bottled water, packaged food).
