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30/08/2024

Severe Weather September 2024

Recovery supports

A severe weather event impacted all three regions of Tasmania between 26 August to 4 September 2024. This event brought high rainfalls and flooding, as well as significant wind damage across the state resulting in extended power and telecommunications outages. This event also included major flooding in the Derwent River catchment.

Natural disasters can be traumatic and overwhelming events that can affect everyone in the community, causing disruption and damage to businesses, farmers, properties, infrastructure and the environment.

If you have been affected by this event, the following information is specifically for you, to assist you and your community in getting back on your feet.

Grants closed:

  • Emergency Assistance Grants;
  • Emergency Food Relief Grants;
  • Temporary Living Support Grants.

These grants closed at 2.00pm on Thursday 3 October. If you submitted an application for one of these grants but you have not received a payment or been contacted please check your email regularly for advice regarding the outcome of your application.

Grants Available:

Emergency Response Grants

These grants programs are for eligible Primary Producers, Small Businesses and Not for Profit organisations that have been impacted by the recent August/September 2024 floods and storms.

These grant programs aim to provide assistance with the costs of clean-up and restoration.

These grants are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

This program aims to provide assistance with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement; and to continue or recommence operations as soon as possible where the impact has been severe.

The maximum grant funding available is $10,000 to eligible primary producers statewide. An additional $15,000 is available for primary producers in the Derwent Valley and Central Highlands Local Government Areas, recognising the impacts of major flooding in those areas.

For information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania - Agrigrowth Tasmania, or call 1300 292 292, or email farmpoint@nre.tas.gov.au.

This program is intended to assist small businesses that were impacted by flood waters, wind and power outages resulting in property damage and/or loss of stock (ie spoiling of perishable goods) to continue or recommence operations as soon as possible.

The maximum grant funding available is $25,000, as follows:

  • Tier One: an initial one-off amount of $2,500 is available.
  • Tier Two: a subsequent one-off amount of up to $22,500 is available.

For For information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit the Business Tasmania website or call 1800 440 026 or email ask@business.tas.gov.au.

This program aims to provide assistance with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of Not for Profit organisations that have suffered direct damage as a result of the weather event.

The maximum grant funding available is $25,000, as follows:

  • Tier One: an initial one-off amount of $2,500 is available.
  • Tier Two: a subsequent one-off amount of up to $22,500 is available.

For information on eligibility criteria and how to apply, please visit the Department of Premier and Cabinet - Community Grants, or call 1800 204 224 or email grants@dpac.tas.gov.au.

Recovery and Restoration Grants

If an individual has been impacted by the September 2024 floods and storms, they may be eligible for one or more of the Recovery and Restoration Grants.

Recovery and Restoration Grants provide assistance to meet needs in the medium to longer term for people who, because of an eligible natural disaster, are unable to reside in their principal place of residence and/or have incurred substantial property damage and/or substantial loss of personal household items essential for daily living.

Types of Recovery and Restoration Grants available:

  • Renters and homeowners who live in impacted areas may be eligible to receive one or both of the following:
    • Repair and Restoration Grant
    • Replacement of Household items Grant
  • Homeowners only who live in impacted areas may be eligible to receive:
    • Repair and Restoration Grant

This grant package is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Replacement of Household Items Grant: essential household items damaged or destroyed directly by an eligible natural disaster. Only items considered to be basic/essential to household functioning are eligible for replacement. Please note that this grant is not designed to restore to the pre-disaster standard of living.

Essential items include:

  • Cooking utensils – for example cutlery, pots, pans and microwave ovens.
  • Bedding – for example mattresses, sheets, blankets and pillows.
  • Furniture – for example beds, chairs and tables.
  • Whitegoods – for example kettles, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, stoves and vacuum cleaners.

Assistance of up to $7,490 (plus $1,250 per additional household member up to a maximum of $11,450) is available to cover eligible costs not recoverable through insurance. Eligibility for the grant is subject to an income/asset test.

To apply online, visit: Department of Premier and Cabinet - Community Grants (dpac.tas.gov.au) or call 1800 204 224.

This grant is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

This grant assists low-income households to re-establish a principal place of residence to a basic, minimum standard to allow it to be habitable following an eligible natural disaster. This grant is not designed to assist with returning the property to its full pre-disaster condition. Assistance of up to $11,450 is available to cover eligible costs not recoverable by insurance. Eligibility for the grant is subject to income and asset testing, noting that the applicant must be the owner of the residence.

To apply online, visit: Department of Premier and Cabinet - Community Grants (dpac.tas.gov.au) or call 1800 204 224.

This grant is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Other support:

Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Nick Duigan, Minister for Parks and Environment, have announced the Tasmanian Government is waiving the landfill levy for the disposal of flood and storm waste.

This is a statewide waiver for residents across Tasmania.

Waste includes materials damaged or left on your property by the flood waters, or green waste material such as spoiled food and other organics.

Importantly residents do not need to take additional actions but should inform their landfill operator on arrival at a facility that they are disposing of waste generated by the severe weather event.

People are encouraged to check with their local councils more information.

The landfill waiver will be in place until 30 November 2024.

Compensation packages are available for customers who have experienced a lengthy power outage or multiple outages in a 12-month period. If you are eligible for a payment it will be sent to you automatically. You don't have to do anything. You will receive a cheque payment by mail made out to the name/s appearing on your power bill from your energy retailer. 

For more information, go to: https://www.tasnetworks.com.au/power-outages/Our-power-supply-guarantee

See also