NSW Rural Assistance Authority – Natural Disaster Relief Loan (Primary Producers)

This program aims to assist primary producers directly affected by a declared natural disaster.

This low interest rate loan can help a farm business to:
- Continue to operate their farm businesses for the next twelve months or until the next income is received.
- Replace and repair damage caused to the property and associated improvements not covered by insurance.

The features of the loan include:
- Amount: Up to $130,000 is available
- Term: Up to ten years; First two years are interest and repayment free
- Interest: 0.45% fixed interest rate for the term of the loan
- Repayments: Monthly, half-yearly, quarterly or annual repayments of principle and interest
- Fees and charges: Security searches and registration; No ongoing fees or charges
- Security: Registered mortgage over the land; Other security, including a mortgage from another person may be considered

Assistance under this scheme by its nature is not compensatory therefore applicants need to be in urgent and genuine need of assistance.

Applications for assistance must be lodged within six months of the declaration of a natural disaster.

Please refer to the website for the list of declared natural disasters and its closing dates.

Eligible applicants must:
- Earn the majority of their gross income from primary production.
- Be in working occupation of the farm.
- Conduct their farming activities on a rural property within a Local Government Area that has been declared a natural disaster.
- Be in urgent and genuine need of financial assistance.
- Demonstrate that if the required assistance were obtained commercially, the farming business would be placed in financial difficulty.
- Demonstrate that the farming business has long-term viability.
- Demonstrate that the farming business has the capacity to repay the loan sought.
- Provide security, acceptable to the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.