Financial support for businesses affected by floods
If your business, community group, child care or not-for-profit has been affected by severe weather and flooding in NSW, there is financial support and other assistance you can apply for.
A range of support is available
Find what help is available to you, and information on how to apply, through the Service NSW Disaster Assistance Finder.
Grants for flood-affected businesses
Businesses in disaster-declared Local Government Areas (LGAs) are eligible for financial support. You can get face-to-face advice at recovery centres for information about accessing this support.
If you prefer to be assisted remotely, contact specialists at Service NSW by calling 13 77 88.
To find which flood grants are available to you, use the Business flood grants eligibility checker.
Small business grants
The February and March 2022 storm and flood disaster recovery small business grant is available to help with the costs of clean up and reinstating operations. You must be a small business or not-for-profit in a defined disaster area to be eligible. The grant has a maximum payment of $50,000.
For businesses in the highly impacted LGAs of Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Tweed, there is more support available:
Grants of up to $10,000 for eligible small businesses and not-for-profit (NFP) organisations that have experienced a minimum 40 per cent decline in turnover in March 2022 due to the impacts of flooding. This grant is not available to businesses that have received the $50,000 disaster recovery grant.
Apply for the Small Business Northern Flood Grant
Financial assistance grants of up to $200,000 for medium-sized businesses employing more than 20 and up to 200 employees, to assist with clean-up, essential repairs and replacement not covered by insurance.
Up to $50 million for large businesses and major employers in key industries to provide immediate financial assistance in the Northern Rivers.
Businesses and not-for-profits in highly impacted suburbs will be prioritised for grants and support.
To receive funds of between $15,000 to $50,000, you will need to submit evidence of payment of the relevant costs at the time of application.
Use the Disaster Assistance Finder to learn what assistance you're eligible for, and how to apply.
Support for Early Childhood Education and Care Services
Applications are now open for the Early Childhood Education and Care Flood Recovery Grants, available for eligible services in the Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, the Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Tweed Local Government Areas.
Applications can now be submitted via SmartyGrants by midnight, Monday, 30 May 2022.
This includes community preschools, mobile preschools, long day cares, multifunctional Aboriginal Children’s Services, Aboriginal Child and Family Centres, family day cares, occasional cares or out of school hours care services.
Applications can be submitted by eligible services for funding up to $30,000 (excluding GST).
These emergency grants will assist you to repair or replace damaged equipment or infrastructure to aid in restoring safe, quality learning environments for children. Funding can be used on resources or activities that have already been purchased or completed.
This will enable services to return to normal operations faster and to allow for the continuity of participation and learning for children, and support for families at that service.
The application process has been streamlined to reduce the time taken to fill out the application form. For many services, the application process may take approximately 20 minutes to complete. Supporting evidence such as quotes are optional for the form. You may obtain and keep this evidence after you submit your application. This will help you submit your application more quickly. Please ensure you keep evidence, such as tax invoices for the future audit process.
Applications for the ECEC Emergency Grants Program can be accessed here with reference to the Education’s Early Childhood Education and Care Flood Recovery Grants guidelines.
Property demolition grants for business
A new program will be available to insured and uninsured owners of property to get free structural assessments, demolition and waste removal.
Find out more information about the Flood Property Assessment Program and sign up to be contacted when support is available.
Clean-up support for businesses
Clean-up and recovery grants are now available to businesses in disaster-declared LGAs. These grants support with removal of debris and cleaning up flood-impacted businesses.
For more information, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or read more detail about clean up and recovery grants.
Support for industry, primary producers and councils
There is a primary industry support package to assist a range of industries, organisations and producers impacted by floods. See Support for farmers and primary producers for more.
You can find out more using the Disaster Assistance Finder or sign up to get notified when support is available.
Other financial assistance for businesses
Disaster relief loans for businesses and NFPs
- Small businesses and primary producers may be eligible for concessional loans up to $130,000.
- Not-for-profits may be eligible for concessional loans up to $25,000.
- Sporting clubs may be eligible for concessional loans up to $10,000.
Visit the NSW Rural Assistance Authority or call 1800 678 593 for further details.
Tax and stamp duty relief for flood-affected communities
Taxpayers in flood-affected areas will be provided with any additional time they need to meet any upcoming business activity statement obligations.
Impacted taxpayers that pay their Pay-As-You-Go Instalments quarterly will also be allowed to vary upcoming instalments and claim a refund on previously paid instalments.
Any GST refunds taxpayers are entitled to will also be fast-tracked to free up cash flow and help fund recovery.
If you require urgent assistance with your tax affairs due to the floods, read about the ATO support for flood victims, speak to your accountant, or call the ATO’s Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218.
People, businesses and farmers can claim stamp duty relief on the replacement purchase of privately or commercially owned, insured motor vehicles that have been written off.
Help from your bank
Australia’s banks have announced options to defer loan repayments for up to 3 months for customers affected by floods in NSW.
Additionally, some banks are offering small business customers in NSW from flood-impacted postcodes cash grants of up to $3000 or grants of up to $10,000 to help with expenses and repairs.
Speak to your bank about other support measures they can offer you, such as:
- customised payment arrangements for your home loan, credit card, personal loan and some business loans, or loan restructuring
- waiving fees and charges for damaged terminals and support with merchant terminal rental fees
- expediting insurance claims or temporary increases to overdrafts, additional loans or emergency credit limit increases.
Help from other businesses
Telephone and internet service providers are offering relief for customers affected by floods. You can apply by filling out a form with Telstra, Optus, or contact your provider to find out more.
The Insurance Council of Australia says some insurers are fast-tracking claims for people in financial hardship.
Northern Rivers business support
Businesses like food processing, tourism and manufacturers in the Northern Rivers will receive a range of different support based on their business size.
You find find out more on New support package for northern NSW and on Northern Rivers Business Support package.
The three streams of funding under the Northern Rivers Business Support Package include:
- Small Business Flood Support ($80m)
- Medium Business Flood Support ($20m)
- Large Business Flood Support ($50m).
Register with Service NSW to be notified when support is available.
More detail on support for the Northern Rivers
There are $10,000 grants for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations that are ineligible for other grants.
These grants help eligible businesses cover business costs which may include, but are not limited to, the following expenses:
- salaries and wages
- utilities and rent
- government fees and charges (including local government rates)
- financial, legal or other advice
- marketing and communications
- perishable goods
- other business costs.
To be eligible, businesses and not-for-profits must have:
- an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have been operating in New South Wales on 1 January 2021
- derived at least $75,000 in turnover in the year ended 30 June 2021 or 30 June 2020 (must use the financial year for the Australian Tax Return most recently lodged with the ATO) from a business physically located in one of the seven highly impacted Northern Rivers LGAs including Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed
- an aggregated annual turnover of between $75,000 and $10 million (inclusive) for the year ended 30 June 2021, or 30 June 2020 (must use the financial year for the Australian Tax Return most recently lodged with the ATO)
- experienced a decline in turnover of 40 per cent or more during the month of March 2022, compared to March 2021 or March 2020 due to the impacts of flooding, which has, for example, led to reduced consumer demand, labour shortages and supply chain disruptions.
Businesses that receive the Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grant are not eligible for the Small Business Northern Flood Grant.
Register for the Small Business Northern Flood Grant through Service NSW.
You can find extra support using the Service NSW Disaster Assistance Finder.
Find out more about storm and flood programs from the Rural Assistance Authority.
Northern Rivers medium size business grant
Up to $200,000 is available for medium-sized businesses with more than 20 employees that have been impacted by floods to pay for clean-up, essential repairs and replacement not covered by existing insurance.
Regional NSW is working with businesses to create a detailed Economic Impact Assessment that will inform program design.
The program design, guidelines and eligibility criteria will be finalised in consultation with Resilience NSW and the Australian Government to meet the specific needs of medium-sized businesses in the impacted regions.
Find out more about the Northern Rivers medium size business grant.
Large business flood support in the Northern Rivers
Major employers in the region that have been disproportionately impacted will be able to apply for funding to recover and retain skilled jobs in local communities.
Regional NSW has commenced consultation with businesses in the Northern Rivers areas. The results of these discussions will be incorporated into a detailed Economic Impact Assessment that will inform the program design.
Medium and Large Business Support Packages are still being confirmed, and are anticipated to launch in April.
Insurance claim support
The Insurance Council of Australia has made a Catastrophe Declaration for parts of NSW affected, to activate services and support for affected businesses and homeowners.
Having digital or physical copies of your insurance policy will help you access this support. Things like account details are important to help expedite your claim and understand what you are covered for.
It's important that you keep a record of all interactions you have with your insurer. If necessary, they'll send someone to do initial repairs to prevent further damage.
The NSW Small Business Commissioner’s quick guide to making an insurance claim can help businesses to get paid quickly and smoothly after a disaster or disruption.
Read our guide to insurance and legal support in a flood.
Legal support
For free legal help visit the Disaster Response Legal Service or phone 1800 801 529 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Disaster Response Legal Service lawyers will visit affected communities after a disaster.
The Disaster Response Legal Service is a specialist service of Legal Aid NSW.
If you have been affected by a disaster, the Disaster Response Legal Service can help you with: insurance claims and disputes such as:
- tenancy issues
- employment and your rights at work
- financial hardship
- unpaid fines
- Centrelink issues
- other everyday legal problems arise after a disaster.
Other legal services that are available include Insurance Law Service, Tenants' Union of NSW, Community Legal Services other support on this list of different advocacy services.
There are also specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander tenancy and housing support from:
Contact LawAccess NSW or call 1300 888 529 if you need general legal support.
Support to repair community, arts and cultural centres
$100 million has been allocated by Commonwealth and NSW Governments for help with repair and reconstruction of community facilities and assets, such as:
- libraries
- playing fields and courts
- playgrounds
- parks
- youth and senior facilities.
This funding is available under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. For further information, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
Aboriginal community infrastructure repair
$50 million has been allocated by the Commonwealth and NSW Governments for:
- the repair and reconstruction of Aboriginal community infrastructure
- access needs owned by Local Aboriginal Land Councils.
For further information, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or find face-to-face support at your local recovery centre.