The NSW Government has doubled it’s Drought Funding Package to $500 million in the NSW Budget 2018.
The funding announcement included $250 million for the Farm Innovation Fund where farmers can apply for a one-off seven year interest free loan of up-to $50,000 for water infrastructure and fodder and grain delivery. There will also be low interest loans of up to $250,000 for infrastructure to drought proof farms, and loans for bio-banking are eligible.
Other additional drought support includes:
- $25 million to construct and operate three new Doppler radar weather stations on the Central West and Far West.
- $4 million for mental health services, including support for coordinators and counselling support the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and the National Association for Loss and Grief, a Dubbo-based NGO.
- $5 million for local council road maintenance facilitating heavy vehicle access
- A new kangaroo management plan to reduce kangaroo number sin drought-hit areas
Read about the announcement via the NSW Government’s media release.
Applications for assistance can be made through the NSW DPI’s Rural Assistance Authority.
For more information visit the NSW Drought Hub or contact the NSW RAA on 02 6391 3098 or rural.assist@raa.nsw.gov.au