Community Assistance

Emergency Relief

The Commonwealth Government recently announced an additional $80.6 million over three years in emergency relief funding.  The Commonwealth Government will provide an additional $5 million of funding to meet the need for immediate assistance from families affected by the bushfires.

Farming and Small Business

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments will establish a Farming and Small Business Assistance Fund. 

As part of the first stage of a joint package to assist small businesses and farmers, $51 million is being made available through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. Further details are provided below.

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA)

Community Recovery Fund

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have established a $10 million Community Recovery Fund to help recovery and community development following the bushfires.  The Fund will cover a range of projects such as the restoration of community infrastructure damaged or destroyed in the fires, above and beyond the replacement of essential public asset and community preparedness and resilience building activities.

In recognition of the importance of sporting facilities in regional and rural communities, $3 million from the Community Recovery Fund has been set aside for grants, of up to $100, 000 each, for sports clubs in bushfire affected areas for rebuilding and reparation works.

Small Businesses and Primary Producers

The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments are providing support to those small businesses and primary producers directly affected by the Victorian Bushfires through a $51 million joint package. 

The available assistance includes:

• a one-off grant of $5,000 for immediate repair and restoration costs, with additional funds available up to a maximum total of $25,000 for eligible small businesses or primary producers with significant damage
• free access to professional business advice and counselling services
• a concessional interest rate loans scheme - businesses can borrow up to $200,000 at 3.2 per cent interest over five years. 

For more information on the grants to primary producers and small businesses and the concessional interest rate loans contact the Rural Finance Corporation on 1800 255 925.

For more information on business advice and counselling service contact Business Victoria hotline on 13 22 15 or via Business Victoria.

Social Housing

The Victorian Government will have the ability to draw on its share of the Commonwealth Government's $6.4 billion Social Housing Fund which was announced as part of the Nation Building and Jobs Plan.  This will be used to respond to social housing needs in bushfire-affected areas.

Local Government

The Commonwealth Government will provide councils in the natural disaster affected areas of Victoria with the opportunity to reprioritise their projects under the Government's $250 million Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program .A further $500 million has also been allocated for competitive projects under this program, which will enable councils to better meet the need of locals affected by this natural disaster.

All Victorian councils will have their local government Financial Assistance Grants brought forward from 15 May 2009 to 23 February 2009. 

Education

The Victorian Government will be able to draw on its share of funding under the Commonwealth Government's $14.7 billion Building the Education Revolution Program.  This will enable the Victorian Government to give priority to the construction of school infrastructure in communities affected by bushfires.

Families that have been affected by the Victorian Bushfires may be able to access Special Child Care Benefit to help cover the full fees of child care in an approved child care service for a period of up to 13 weeks. For further information about Special Child Care Benefit, contact the Family Assistance Office on 13 6150.

Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority

The Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority has been established by the Victorian Government in partnership with the Commonwealth Government.  This Authority will be headed by Police Chief Commissioner, Christine Nixon.

The Authority will be responsible for coordinating the community recovery and rebuilding effort of all Local, State and Commonwealth Government agencies and many of the community organisations contributing to the disaster response.