Disaster-impacted primary
producers and small to medium-sized businesses in the Kimberley and Pilbara are
now eligible for new recovery grants.
The two new grant
programs have been made available to cover the costs of eligible clean-up and recovery
efforts, for those impacted by Tropical Cyclone Ilsa or ex-Tropical Cyclone
Ellie this year.
Both are jointly funded by the Albanese and Cook
Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DFRA).
The Small and
Medium Business Recovery Grants Programsprovide support of
up to $50,000 for small businesses and up to $75,000 for medium-sized
businesses. Eligible costs include the purchasing of equipment and materials to
undertake clean-up, essential repairs to premises, disposal of damaged goods
and materials, payment for trades to conduct safety inspections and leasing of
temporary premises.
Under the Primary Producers Recovery Grant Program, support of up
to $75,000 is available to assist primary production enterprises that suffered
direct damage from either disaster. Eligible costs include those incurred
cleaning up flood-related debris, removal and disposal of damaged
infrastructure and equipment, stock recovery and replacement, restoration of
fencing, and repairs to damaged infrastructure and equipment.
Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine
King said the recovery grants would help continue economic recovery for
communities in the Kimberley and Pilbara.
"These grants are intended to assist with costs that
businesses and primary producers incur in cleaning up and getting back to work,
including work completed since the disasters and work still to be done," Minister
King said.
"Communities in regional areas rely on a strong
economy, so these grants will be an important tool in supporting businesses to bounce
back from the cyclones.
"For
those hit hard by these events, the grants will provide much-needed relief for
the region's farmers and business operators, and a boost to the region's
economic recovery."
Western Australian Emergency Services Minister Stephen
Dawson said the Government recognised the challenges of operating a primary
production enterprise or business in a remote location, so it was a priority to
help maintain impacted businesses and support them through the recovery.
"In small regional and remote communities, primary producers and local
businesses are at the heart of their communities and play a critical role in
providing local employment and goods and services to the local economy," Minister
Dawson said.
"The costs to carry out clean-up and repairs may be prohibitive and cause a
delay in recommencing operations, which could have a flow-on negative impact on
local employment opportunities and the local economy.
"That's why we've been working closely with the Australian Government
to develop a support program that helps local primary producers and businesses
get back on their feet as soon as possible."
More information
about the grants programs is available at the Department for Fire and Emergency
Services' Emergency WA website.
The support is in
addition to more housing assistance for public housing
and private homeowner grants, and temporary housing
for displaced residents and workers, also announced today. For more
information, visit: www.dfes.wa.gov.au/kimberleyfloods
