The Victorian Government and supporting services have announced a range of financial and practical support to assist those affected by recent fires.
Grants of up to $75,000 are available to assist primary producers affected by the 2019-2020 bushfire disaster. These are to manage costs associated with immediate clean-up and recovery activities such as disposing dead stock and rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure including fencing.
The Emergency Bushfire Transport Support Program offers subsidies of up to $15,000 are available for primary producers, including apiarists, who have been impacted by bushfires.
The subsidy is for transport costs that directly address immediate animal welfare needs and can include transport of emergency fodder to fire-affected properties, moving stock to or from agistment, moving stock to sale or slaughter and the transport of emergency supplies of drinking water for stock.
Support for grape growers is being made available. This includes a smoke impact testing rebate capped at $1200, shuttle service for samples and support to access technical advice as a follow-up to laboratory testing.
The Bushfire Clean-Up Recovery program covers costs associated with the demolition and disposal of all buildings destroyed or damaged beyond repair by the 2019-2020 bushfires. This program applies to residential buildings and structures, commercial or public buildings and other outbuildings.
There is a range of support for families and individuals, including a disaster recovery payment and hardship assistance to help people with costs towards food, shelter, clothing and personal items.
Find more resources and fact sheets (e.g. about fencing, emergency fodder, fire recovery, animal welfare, agistment, wine industry support) , at the Agriculture Victoria website. For more information on bushfire recovery, please contact Bushfire Recovery Victoria on 1800 560 760. In an emergency, please call 000.
Pictured: An Australian Army CH-47 Chinook delivers hay to a remote fire-affected farm. Image courtesy of Australian Defence Force Image Gallery
