Rural Finance – Clean Up and Restoration Grants: Primary Producers

This program aims to provide financial assistance to primary producers located in the local government areas of Baw Baw, Cardinia and Latrobe that were impacted by the bushfires which occurred in February/March 2019.

Funding is available under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to enable businesses to repair and/or replace assets and restore business activity.

Grants of up to $10,000 are available.

Eligible applicants include primary producers who must:
- Have suffered the direct impact of the Bushfires that commenced February/March 2019.
- Be located in one of the following local Government areas: Baw Baw, Cardinia or Latrobe.
- Have a right or interest in the land property affected by the bushfires (ownership or lease).
- Be classified as a primary producer (refer to definitions).
- Be responsible for the cost of bushfire repairs.
- Have re-established the primary production enterprise in the same area or intend to.

Primary producers who have applied for Concessional Loans are not precluded from eligibility.

In the case of leased land, only one grant may be paid. Under these circumstances a joint application by the owner and the lessee is to be lodged.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete eligibility requirements.

Eligible activities are to cover the expenditure involved in clean up and reinstatement of the entity, not covered through any other form of assistance, including the following items:
- Equipment and materials to undertake clean-up.
- Additional labour costs (above and beyond normal wage expenditure).
- Disposing of damaged goods and injured or dead stock.
- Cost of disposal.
- Repairs to buildings (other than housing).
- Fencing.
- Reconditioning/repairing essential plant and equipment.
- Replacement of deceased livestock.
- Salvaging, or re-establishing pastures and/or fodder crops (e.g. seed and fertiliser).
- Health maintenance for livestock and poultry.
- Purchase of fodder.
- Purchase or hire/lease costs for equipment essential to the immediate resumption of farming.
- Replacement of essential water used by fire fighting.
- Water cartage.

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Compensation for lost income or amounts claimed under the Victorian Government State Coordinated Cleanup Program.
- Any items that have been covered by an insurance claim.