NSW Rural Assistance Authority – Wine Grape Smoke Taint Grants

This program aims to provide assistance to wine grape producers in smoke-impacted wine regions to support their recovery efforts. It is fully funded by the Commonwealth Government and administered by the NSW Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement.

The objective of this assistance, made by agreement between the Commonwealth and relevant State Governments under category D of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), is to support wine grape producers who have suffered crop loss from smoke taint caused by the Black Summer 2019-20 bushfires, and who are located outside of Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement Category C disaster declared areas (for the 2019-20 bushfires).

Grants of up to $10,000 (GST does not apply) are available per eligible business. Applicants are required to provide a dollar-for-dollar co-contribution to the value of the grant they apply for.

A total funding pool of $5 million is available.

Eligible applicants must:
- Be a wine grape producer.
- Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster.
- Be located in New South Wales.
- Be located outside of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) eligible for the Emergency Bushfire Response in Primary Industries (EBRPI) or Small Business Bushfire Support grants.
- Demonstrate the 2020 vintage of wine grape harvest was tainted by smoke from the 2019-20 bushfires and be able to provide evidence to support that claim.
- Have suffered a decline in revenue or grapes harvested of 40% or more in a relevant three-month period (compared to a relevant threemonth period in the previous year) since 31 August 2019. Note: In the case of revenue, applicants are not required to demonstrate thatthis was caused by bushfire or smoke taint.

Wine grape producer means, an individual or organisation that:
- Holds an Australian Business Number (ABN).
- Is the first owner of wine grapes immediately after harvest and immediately before delivery to a processing establishment, or the person who grows the wine grapes and is the proprietor of the processing establishment.
- Is a Grape Research Levy payer.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the complete list of eligibility requirements and local government areas.

Eligible activities may include, but are not limited to, any of the following:
- Meeting ongoing business costs, including (but not limited to) utilities, salaries and rent.
- Seeking financial advice to support the recovery or future plans of the business.
- Adjusting the business to be viable in the changed local context following the bushfires.
- Developing, promoting or extending the business reach through marketing and communications activities.
- Improvements to make the business more resilient to future disasters.

Repairing damage to residential properties is not an eligible activity, and grants will not be permitted to be used for damage or activities covered under existing insurance policies or other state or Commonwealth grants.