North Queensland Restocking, Replanting and On-farm Infrastructure Grant

Primary producers who suffered loss of livestock, or loss or damage to crops, permanent plantings or on-farm infrastructure as a direct result of the North Queensland and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough (25 January – 14 February 2019) may be eligible for these grants.

In addition, you must:

• Demonstrate access to funds to use as your matched co-contribution
• Demonstrate the primary production enterprise will be financially viable after acquittal of grant amount and matched co-contribution

The expected processing time of a Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grant application with all required information is 15 to 20 business days.

To help ensure your application has all the required information provided to process promptly, applicants can speak with a QRIDA representative prior to lodging your application to discuss your proposal.

If unsure or need help with your application contact QRIDA on Freecall 1800 623 946.

range of funding sources can be used for your co-contribution, including credit accounts, term deposits, Farm Management Deposits or other investments, and funds available within existing loan facilities or raised through new loans.

Concessional or disaster assistance loans through QRIDA or the Regional Investment Corporation can be used for the matched co-contribution. Your co-contribution will equal the amount of the loan approved for the purposes of restocking, replanting and/or on-farm infrastructure repair.

Your co-contribution cannot be funded from a grant (government or non-government) or charitable source. This includes the $75,000 Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant and the Freight Subsidy administered by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Yes. Grant funds may be used to pay for agistment costs (including costs associated with having livestock on stock routes) in order to maintain existing or replacement stock in circumstances where:

• fencing or other on-farm infrastructure is still to be repaired, or
• pasture on your property has been damaged and requires renovation or simply time to regenerate.

Note: Should agistment form part of your regular operations then these normal operating costs are not able to be claimed under the grant.

No. QRIDA will pay 50 percent of invoice amounts for items claimed, exclusive of GST. This is because you will be able to claim the GST component of your purchases when you lodge your Business Activity Statement with the Australian Taxation Office.

Yes. Replanting the cropping area destroyed as a result of the disaster is an eligible activity under the scheme. However, normal replacement of aged cane ratoons or planting of fallow land is not.

If you have already spent your own funds for eligible purposes under the scheme, these funds can comprise part or all of your matched co-contribution – you will just need to provide official tax invoices and receipts to confirm this spending.

You will be reimbursed for 50 per cent of the funds already spent, up to the maximum grant amount of $400,000.

You are not limited to only applying for the amount that you have already spent (unless it exceeds the maximum grant amount). If you have further sources of co-contribution you are able to apply for additional grant funds up to the maximum amount of $400,000.

Yes, the grants are flexible, so that they can address the wide variety of circumstances.

You can apply multiple times for funds until you reach the maximum level you are eligible for, up to the $400,000 threshold. You can also draw down on grant funds multiple times up to the total you are approved to receive, while the program remains open (until 30 June 2022).

This means you can manage the timing of your restocking, replanting and replacement or repair of on-farm infrastructure in a way that best suits your needs.

If possible, it’s preferable that your initial application identifies the full extent of known (or anticipated) losses or damage resulting from the disaster event.

A grant may be approved in multiple parts. You may be approved for the amount you can access now with a matched co-contribution and receive conditional approval for a further amount which will be provided once you’re able to make a further matched co-contribution.

No. Eligibility for the Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant Scheme does not in itself make you eligible for a grant under the Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grant Scheme.

QRIDA will assess your application for a Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grant on the basis of all of the scheme’s eligibility criteria and grant guidelines.

The drawdown period is flexible. QRIDA will require you to provide regular updates on your progress during the drawdown period.

Freecall 1800 623 946. QRIDA also have a network of Regional Area Managers located across Queensland.

You can also get assistance with your application from the following free services:

• Rural Financial Counselling Service North Queensland: 07 4652 5669 or www.rfcsnq.com.au/contact
• Local Industry Recovery Officer (Queensland Department of Agricultural and Fisheries): 13 25 23.

Yes. These grants are intended to help people rebuild their primary production business and allows for you to restock with another type or class of livestock (in full or in part) if you’d prefer.  You will be able to restock to a level equivalent to where your herd numbers were at prior to the disaster. For example, this may be switching from a breeder herd to a trade cattle operation or switching from cattle to sheep and/or goats or other livestock.

Note: QRIDA works on the basis of one (1) Adult Equivalent cattle (450kg dry beast) equals eight (8) Dry Sheep Equivalent. For more information contact QRIDA on feecall 1800 623 946.

If you have insurance cover you must submit and finalise a claim prior to receiving any grant funding for these items.

If your insurance pay-out does not cover the full cost of repairs, the balance of the repair costs may be eligible under this scheme.

You can still apply for funding associated with other eligible costs not covered by an insurance policy (for example for restocking) prior to the finalisation of an insurance claim.

No. As of the 1 July 2020, you can now apply for a Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grant without needing to have acquired a Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant.

Yes you can. If eligible for the grant, you will be given conditional approval by QRIDA for the restocking, replanting and/or on-farm infrastructure activities you are looking to undertake. This approval would be subject to you arranging your matched co-contribution to the equivalent amount.

Yes. You can claim freight costs associated with purchasing replacement livestock or planting materials provided you have not been reimbursed for these costs by any other subsidies available from government agencies or charitable organisations.

It’s recommended that you first consider accessing the Flood Freight Subsidy Restocking and Agistment Scheme (FFSRA) administered by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Further information on the FFSRA is available at https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/disaster-recovery/natural-disaster/declared-areas

There are two types of Disaster Assistance Loans available from QRIDA that can be used as your matched co-contribution including:

• Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $250,000 to assist with restocking, re-planting and restoring areas affected or for working capital expenses such as paying salaries or wages, creditors, rent or rates.
• Exceptional Disaster Assistance Loans of up to $1 million for eligible producers and businesses to pay for costs arising from exceptional damage caused by the disaster.

The restocking, replanting and/or on-farm infrastructure repair portions of these loans can be used as your matched co-contribution of up to $400,000.

You can apply now for conditional approval for a grant subject to approval and financing under the new loan. We encourage you to discuss your options with QRIDA on Freecall 1800 623 946.

The Regional Investment Corporation is also offering the AgRebuild Loan (North Qld flood) of up to $5 million. Please note again that the restocking, replanting and/or on-farm infrastructure repair portions of these loans can be used as your matched co-contribution up to $400,000. More information here.

The cost of riverbank repair may be an eligible activity under the scheme. However, this will depend on the specific repairs being proposed.

Riverbank repairs normally require approval from the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy and/or the relevant local River Trust Authority prior to works being undertaken.

The draw down process will be clearly outlined in your approval correspondence from QRIDA. To draw down on the approved grant funds, you will need to provide either:

1. an official tax invoice and an authority to pay for QRIDA to pay directly to the supplier; or
2. an official tax invoice and receipt (generally an EFT receipt) for reimbursement to your account if you have already paid the tax invoice yourself.

If you have not paid the invoice, QRIDA will pay 50 per cent of the GST-exclusive supplier invoice directly to the supplier on your behalf.

If you have already paid the invoice, QRIDA will pay 50 per cent of the GST-exclusive supplier invoice to you.

You are still entitled to claim all of the GST credits for your purchase even though QRIDA is providing funds to assist with the purchase.

The Eligible Separate Business criteria under the Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant does not apply to this scheme.

Under the Restocking, Replanting and On-Farm Infrastructure Grant scheme, the maximum grant amount available for an eligible primary production enterprise is $400,000.

If you operate more than one eligible primary production enterprise as demonstrated by your financial statements, and can provide separate matched co-contributions, each enterprise may be eligible for a separate grant under this scheme.

Please contact QRIDA to discuss your situation on Freecall 1800 623 946.

No. You won’t be able to include any funding received under the Freight Subsidy administered by the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries or the $75,000 Special Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant Scheme or any other government grant, or a non-government grant or charitable donation as part of your co-contribution.

Your primary production enterprise will be considered financially viable if you have:

1. Available cash funds for your matched co-contribution.
2. Approved finance from commercial sources to provide your matched co-contribution (e.g. you have margin in your existing loan facilities, or your bank has agreed to provide additional funding for the purposes of the grant).
3. A disaster assistance loan from QRIDA to provide your matched co-contribution.
4. A loan from the Regional Investment Corporation to provide your matched co-contribution.

The Australian Government has made the grant assistance received under this scheme non-assessable, non-exempt income. You do not pay tax on non‑assessable, non-exempt income and you do not include the amount when you work out your tax loss.

Grant assistance received under this scheme is also not subject to GST.

Please seek advice from your accountant and/or the Australian Tax Office on 1800 806 218 if you have further questions about your individual situation.

Yes. As you lost livestock in the disaster area, you are able to apply to replace them under this scheme. A copy of your agistment or feed lotting agreement and details of the lost livestock numbers must be included in your application.