Bushfire Recovery Shoalhaven

There are many ways you can adapt your business to sell online, or over the phone, to locals and our Sydney, Canberra and National markets.

Please submit details of the products you have available for sale online so the Shoalhaven Tourism team can promote you in their upcoming campaign.

Now is a great time to start thinking of new ways to promote and sell your products. Think gift ideas for online sales via post, home delivery, take-away, vouchers, facebook live tours of your store and products, video link-ups with customers with virtual tasting, cooking, crafting experiences to stay engaged and capture some of the online market.

Many people are looking for gift ideas for Mothers’ Day, birthdays, or just treats for themselves because they have postponed holiday plans. Over the coming weeks, Shoalhaven Tourism will be rolling out campaign activities, including featured-business social posts on @visitshoalhaven publicity and advertising your products with the support of Destination NSW and Tourism Australia.

Have a look at the Operator Opportunities one-pager to guide you through this time and help you focus on what you can do, and how you can use this time to not only promote your products, but keep up to date on Government links for COVID-19 information. It is also a great time to work on your marketing, update your listings (especially ATDW so you can be featured on shoalhaven.com) and refine your offerings so we are ready to hit the market as the coast becomes clearer for travel.

The weekly Bushfire Recovery Newsletter was developed to keep the community up-to-date on the important work the Recovery Action Team are undertaking. To view the latest issue visit Bushfire Recovery Newsletter - 12 June 2020.

Previous issues can be found in the Recovery Newsletter Folder in the Document Library on this page.

Shoalhaven City Council is pleased to announce the extension of 2019-2020 household waste disposal vouchers to 30 September 2020.

The extension follows the disruptions resulting from Covid-19 restrictions preventing residents from accessing Council’s Waste Services depots. The aims is to give Shoalhaven ratepayers extra time to arrange their waste disposal.

Vouchers can be redeemed at any of Council’s Recycling and Waste Depots. Social distancing measures continue to apply, and staff appreciate customer patience as the distancing measures may result in delays onsite.

Waste disposal vouchers can also be used for booking Council’s convenient on-call Green & Bulky collection service.

For the latest information on Shoalhaven’s Recycling and Waste Depots visit the Council Recycling and Waste Depots webpage.

CatholicCare is now running free Bushfire Recovery Support Counselling sessions in the Shoalhaven area.

Anyone in the community affected or impacted by the recent bushfires in anyway are eligible to attend this free service.

For more information take a look at the Bushfire Support Counselling Flyer.

The NSW Government’s $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package is providing funding to support the short-term recovery and resilience of the forestry, horticulture, agriculture and aquaculture industries in NSW impacted by the bushfires from 31 August 2019.

Grants are available for the following industries:

• Apiculture
• Aquaculture
• Dairy
• Forestry
• Horticulture
• Viticulture.

Supply Chain Support Grants
The Supply Chain Support Grants are helping bushfire-affected producers and businesses in these targeted industries meet their short-term recovery needs. Funding for the Supply Chain Support Grants will go towards projects to help these industries rebuild and recover in the immediate to short term, underpinning job security and enabling future production. Applications for the Supply Chain Support Grants close 12 June 2020.

For more information on the Supply Chain Support Grants visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au/supplychaingrants or contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority via rural.assist@raa.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 678 593.

For the Forestry industry visit www.nsw.gov.au/bushfire-industry-recovery-package or contact regionalnsw.business@dpc.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673.

Industry Sector Development Grants
The Sector Development Grants (separate to supply chain grants) provide funding to support the medium to long-term recovery and resilience of these targeted industries. The NSW Government is calling for applications from forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, dairy, viticulture and apiculture businesses or businesses in the close supply or value chain of these industries. As well as incorporated industry associations, co-operatives, local councils or other organisations with a sector wide purpose in the forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries.

Applications for the Sector Development Grants close 17 July 2020 (5pm AEST). For more information and assistance on applying for the Sector Development Grants visit www.nsw.gov.au/bushfire-industry-recovery-package or contact regionalnsw.business@dpc.nsw.gov.au or call 1300 679 673.

Ongoing Bushfire Support

The NSW Government is delivering ongoing financial assistance to bushfire affected communities across the State, available to producers, small business and not-for-profit organisations.

Special Disaster Loans - Available to primary producers, small business and not-for-profits, these loans include a Working Capital Loan up to $50,000 over five years, or Bushfire Recovery Loans up to $500,000 over 10 years. Administered by the Rural Assistance Authority, applicants are encouraged not to self-assess their eligibility but to contact the RAA team on 1800 678 593 for assistance in applying. To date more than $16 million has been disbursed to 291 applicants. The average processing time for a complete application is currently around 21 days. This can take longer depending on the nature of the security offered, and, on occasion, discussions with relevant banks or lending institutions.

Special Disaster Grant - Bushfires - So far more than $81 million in grants of up to $75,000 for eligible primary producers has been distributed to more than 1290 farmers. These grants help to pay for immediate clean-up, reinstatement and repairs to infrastructure. The average processing time for a complete application is currently around eleven days.

Read more here: Bushfire-hit NSW farmers receive $70 million in support so far.

Small Business Bushfire Support Grant - The Commonwealth and NSW Governments announced a Small Business Bushfire Support Grant of $10,000. This grant is administered by Service NSW, not the RAA, and is available to small businesses. Further information on the grant guidelines, the list of eligible LGAs and the online application form can be found on the Service NSW website which also includes comprehensive information on other forms of assistance available.

Coming soon – new customer service portal
The RAA is making it easier for primary producers and small businesses to apply for loans and grants. For the first time our new and existing customers will be able to:

• apply online and store their information for the future
• track the progress of an application
• view transactions and loan balances
• access online statements
• update contact details and banking information.

More information will be available soon. Follow us on Facebook @NSWRAA and check our website www.raa.nsw.gov.au for updates.

The weekly Bushfire Recovery Newsletter was developed to keep the community up-to-date on the important work the Recovery Action Team are undertaking. To view the latest issue visit Bushfire Recovery Newsletter - 5 June 2020.

Previous issues can be found in the Recovery Newsletter Folder in the Document Library on this page.

The RAA is making it easier for primary producers and small businesses to apply for loans and grants. For the first time our new and existing customers will be able to:

• Apply online and store their information for the future
• Track the progress of an application
• View transactions and loan balances
• Access online statements
• Update contact details and banking information.

More information will be available soon. Follow us on Facebook @NSWRAA and check our website www.raa.nsw.gov.au for updates.

The University of Melbourne are presenting a free public public forum on Bushfires and Pandemics - How to Support Child Wellbeing on Thursday 18 June at 4pm. The online panel discussion is for parents, teachers and health professionals caring for, or working with, children in fire-affected communities.

The panel discussion will include leading experts in education, mental health, child health and disaster recovery who will share their insights and tips on how to create environments to support children's wellbeing, with a particular focus on school communities.

The panel discussion will be followed by a Q&A session for young people, parents and guardians, teachers and allied health workers in the audience about their challenges, concerns and on-the-ground experiences.

Question for the panel can be sent to the panel either as you register, or live on the day.

For more information, including how to register, visit the University of Melbourne's website.

The weekly Bushfire Recovery Newsletter was developed to keep the community up-to-date on the important work the Recovery Action Team are undertaking. To view the latest issue visit Bushfire Recovery Newsletter - 5 June 2020.

Previous issues can be found in the Recovery Newsletter Folder in the Document Library on this page.

The weekly Bushfire Recovery Newsletter was developed to keep the community up-to-date on the important work the Recovery Action Team are undertaking. To view the latest issue visit Bushfire Recovery Newsletter - 29 May 2020.

Previous issues can be found in the Recovery Newsletter Folder in the Document Library on this page.