Flood Support for Businesses

As Camden continues to deal with the clean-up in the aftermath of floods, it is important to keep up to date with the latest information on support, safety and assistance for those who are impacted. If you are an individual, run a business or are a primary producer in the flood impacted areas, there is a range of support and assistance to help. 

You can find out what support is available to you with the Disaster Assistance Finder.  There is also more information available if you prefer to call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit nsw.gov.au.

SERVICE NSW | STORM AND FLOOD ASSISTANCE FOR BUSINESSES

Service NSW Quick links

       
13 77 88 Book an appointment Business concierge Legal support Animals and livestock

 

 

 

Support for local business

Government support for businesses affected by flooding

There are a range of Federal and State Government support programs available to flood-affected businesses. Applications are now open for the below programs. Ensure that you check eligibility criteria before applying for grants.

GRANTS AND LOANS

June and July 2022 Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Grant for Small Businesses This Disaster Recovery Grant of up to $50,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations in a defined disaster area
July 2022 - Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

A lump sum payment to help people seriously affected by the NSW floods in July 2022.

  • $1,000 per adult
  • $400 for each child younger than 16
July 2022 - Disaster Recovery Allowance 
Support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of the NSW Floods starting 27 June 2022. You can get it for a maximum of 13 weeks
Request flood clean-up and essential items Ask for help or let us know what essential items you need, such as food, water or medication.
February and March 2022 Storm and Flood Disaster Recovery Grant for Small Businesses This Disaster Recovery Grant of up to $50,000 is to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations in a defined disaster area.
February 2022 - Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment   A lump sum payment to help people seriously affected by the NSW floods starting in February 2022.
  • $1,000 per adult
  • $400 for each child younger than 16
Special Disaster Grants  Primary producers recovering from the devastating impacts of floods are receiving vital support, with Special Disaster Grants of up to $75,000 now available. Flood affected primary producers can access financial assistance to get back operating as soon as possible. Once approved, eligible primary producers can access $15,000 in assistance up-front, with a further $60,000 in financial assistance available thereafter upon submission of valid tax invoices.
$1,000 SafeWork Small Business Rebate This $1,000 rebate helps NSW small business owners purchase safety items that improve work health and safety.

Disaster Relief Loans

Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements 

The NSW Government provides a range of financial and non-financial support to assist communities to recover from the impacts of disasters through the NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements. This includes support for individuals, small business, primary producers, local councils and not-for-profit organisations.
Free 12-month mail redirection for special circumstances  You may be eligible for up to 12 months free mail redirection if a major natural disaster impacts your mail delivery.

Additional resources for businesses

Storm and flood assistance for businesses

Disaster recovery assistance is available to businesses in Camden that have been impacted by storms and floods. Check the Service NSW website for more information.

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Providing free, independent and confidential assistance to help eligible farmers and small rural related businesses with current and long-term financial planning.

Help for affected small businesses to meet their tax obligations

The ATO offers assistance with meeting tax obligations for businesses impacted by floods. More information is available here.

Help from your financial institution

Australia’s banks have announced options to defer loan repayments for up to 3 months for those customers affected by flooding in NSW.

Depending on your circumstances, assistance may also include:          

  1. Waiving of fees and charges, including for early access to term deposits
  2. Debt consolidation to help make repayments more manageable 
  3. Restructuring existing loans free of the usual establishment fees 
  4. Offering additional finance to help cover cash flow shortages 
  5. Deferring upcoming credit card payments 
  6. Emergency credit limit increases
Contact your financial institution for further details.

Help from your telecommunications provider

Telstra and Optus are offering assistance for residential and small business customers who have lost services following the severe storms and major flooding across eastern parts of NSW. Contact your provider for more information.

Register for the flood recovery Property Assessment and Demolition (PAD) program

Property assessment and demolition program for owners whose property has been damaged or destroyed.

Asbestos clean-up in flood impacted areas

 Asbestos materials can be present in flood-affected areas if the buildings were built before 1990. Download fact sheet.

Dealing with chemical waste in floods

As a result of floodwaters entering homes and businesses it is possible that household chemicals, bulk chemicals, and dangerous goods may have travelled large distances from their locations. If the contents are spilt or released as a result, people and the environment may be at risk of harm. Download the fact sheet.

Disaster Recovery Assistance Summary (NSW)

This summary contains immediate contact information for financial relief in NSW - what you are eligible for, and how to apply .

Small Business Commissioner

Updates for businesses impacted by the NSW Floods, read about the help available.

Get back to business - A guide to recovering from disaster

DOWNLOAD HERE

Get back to business is a step-by-step guide for business owners dealing with a disaster. It outlines how you can recover and even bounce back better than ever.

The guide provides information on the five phases of disaster recovery – from the moment disaster hits to the days, weeks and months ahead. There are action checklists on how you can work through each phase of recovery. There are also several case studies highlighting lessons learned by other small businesses who have been faced with disaster. 

Other resources in the Get Ready Toolkit:

Disaster Assistance Finder

Complete the Service NSW online questionnaire to receive a personalised list of available programs and services.

Find assistance now

How to help those affected by the floods

The National Recovery and Resilience Agency has created an information resource for those in a position to help others affected by the 2022 storm and floods. 

The continued generosity from individuals, groups, organisations and domestic and global communities has improved the recovery effort.

There are many ways to get involved, including supporting Council's Facebook page and sharing information amongst your networks so that residents and businesses are keeping up to date. 

The National Recovery and Resilience Agency has created a series of options, including where to donate and how to volunteer

Visit The National Recovery and Resilience Agency website for more information

Primary industries natural disaster damage survey

Report primary industries natural disaster damage

The primary industries natural disaster damage survey is a simple online survey Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Local Land Services (LLS) staff, farmers and agricultural industry representatives can use to record damage to primary production and animals from natural disasters such as floods, fires and storms. The damage survey allows you to:

  • complete a simple survey of the number of crops, animals, infrastructure and other primary industries damaged in a single event

  • add photos to the assessment

  • see the severity of damage in your area.

This source of “ground truth” information helps the Government and communities understand the scale and regional distribution of the impact of a disaster on agriculture, and target resources and assistance where needed.

Submit here

For more information, visit the Department of Primary Industries.

Templates for making a request in writing

If you are applying for a request for hardship and it must be made in writing, there are useful templates available that allow you to simply input your details and generate a formatted letter.

What do I need to do to make an insurance claim?

To prepare an insurance claim, there are a few steps affected small business owners can take. This quick guide to making an insurance claim will help you through the claims process so you can get your claim paid quickly and smoothly after a disaster or disruption.

Read the guide here.

Mental health support that understands small business

The impact of natural disasters, such as storms and floods, can take its toll on small business owners. Visit the NSW Small Business Commissioner website to find out what mental health support is available to small businesses. 

NSW Council of Social Service - Flood Emergency and Relief Assistance

The NSW Council of Social Service provides individuals and communities with information about a range of support services available during emergency periods. The webpage is regularly updated with resources to assist you to access key supports and services. 

Find out more here.

Service NSW customer care

Contact Service NSW

Call on 13 77 88 from Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm (Sydney time).

For free help in your language, call Translating and Interpreting Services on 13 14 50 and ask them to contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.

Book an appointment

The flood recovery customer care service provides personalised one-on-one support. Make a booking to speak to a customer care specialist.

Business support

Information on the relief packages and financial and practical assistance available to businesses. Find out more.

If your request is not business related, click here for support for residents.

For further enquiries, contact the Economy & Place Team on 02 4654 7777 or business@camden.nsw.gov.au