ClosedBusiness
Drought Infrastructure Fund — NSW
Up to $1M available
Rural Assistance Authority
The Drought Infrastructure Fund provided low interest loans of up to $1 million to primary producers in New South Wales for permanent on-farm infrastructure. The funding aimed to help manage adverse seasonal conditions, improve long-term sustainability and increase farm productivity.
Funding
Up to $1M
Closed
8 Jan 2025
Duration
up to 20 years
Location
New South Wales
Who Can Apply
• Applicant must be the owner or operator of the farm business where the work will be carried out
• Business must operate as a sole trader, partnership, trust, or private company trading agricultural products
• Business must be registered with the Australian Taxation Office as a primary producer and have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
• Owner/operator must earn more than 50% of gross income from the primary production enterprise under normal seasonal circumstances, or be a new entrant operating for 12 months to 3 years with more than 50% of gross income expected from the farm business within 3 years
• Gross off-farm assets must not exceed 5000000, excluding registered superannuation funds
• Application must be lodged before commencing the project
• Loans must be fully drawn within 12 months of approval
• Applicant must permit property inspections by the Rural Assistance Authority or authorised persons
• Valid tax invoices used for this application cannot be used to secure funding under another New South Wales Government scheme
• Applicant must provide satisfactory security in accordance with Rural Assistance Authority requirements
• Applicant must demonstrate the works will have a significant beneficial impact on the land and farming business and help prepare for adverse seasonal conditions
• Applicant must demonstrate long-term business viability and capacity to repay the loan
• Proposed works must be part of the Farm Business and Risk Assessment Plan
Applicants had to be the owner or operator of the farm business where the work would be carried out. The business had to operate as a sole trader, partnership, trust or private company trading agricultural products, be registered with the Australian Taxation Office as a primary producer, and hold an active ABN. The owner or operator had to earn more than 50% of gross income from the primary production enterprise under normal seasonal circumstances, or qualify as a new entrant operating for between 12 months and 3 years with more than 50% of gross income expected to be derived from the farm business within 3 years of application. Applicants could not have gross off-farm assets exceeding $5,000,000 excluding superannuation. Applications had to be lodged before commencing the project, proposed works had to form part of the Farm Business and Risk Assessment Plan, and applicants had to demonstrate significant beneficial impact, long-term viability and capacity to repay the loan. Security acceptable to the Rural Assistance Authority was also required.
What's Funded
Permanent on-farm capital works such as stock and domestic water supply, bore capping and piping, tank refurbishment, perennial planting, stock containment areas, soil conservation, erosion control, weed control, solar power conversions, fodder storage facilities, farm and shearing sheds, fencing, road works, storm or exclusion netting, irrigation upgrades, tree planting, livestock effluent control, river bank fencing and flood mitigation works.Before you apply
Check Drought Infrastructure Fund fit and evidence gaps before 8 Jan 2025
Use this business grant page to sanity-check eligibility, funding fit, evidence gaps and application effort before you commit days to drafting. If you already know the grant you want, the 48-hour audit gives a practical go/no-go view, reviewer-readiness score and next-step risks.
Get a 48-hour grant fit auditExpected Outcomes
Improved drought preparedness, stronger permanent farm infrastructure, sustainable land use, better management of adverse seasonal conditions, and improved long-term productivity and profitability of farm businesses.Grant not accepting applications
Applications for this round are closed. A new round may open in the future.
Browse open grantsKey Information
Applicant Types
sole_traderpartnershiptrustcompany
Stage
early_stageestablished
Funding Purposes
capital_expendituresustainabilityother
Keywords
droughtfarm infrastructureprimary producerslow interest loansagricultureon-farm infrastructureseasonal conditionssustainability
Frequently Asked Questions
1
What is the Drought Infrastructure Fund?
The Drought Infrastructure Fund is a business grant offered by Rural Assistance Authority in Australia, providing Up to $1M in funding. The Drought Infrastructure Fund provided low interest loans of up to $1 million to primary producers in New South Wales for permanent on-farm infrastructure. The funding aimed to help manage adverse seasonal conditions, improve long-term sustainability and increase farm productivity.
2
How much funding does the Drought Infrastructure Fund provide?
The Drought Infrastructure Fund provides Up to $1M in funding. The typical project duration is up to 20 years.
3
Who is eligible for the Drought Infrastructure Fund?
- Applicant must be the owner or operator of the farm business where the work will be carried out
- Business must operate as a sole trader, partnership, trust, or private company trading agricultural products
- Business must be registered with the Australian Taxation Office as a primary producer and have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
- Owner/operator must earn more than 50% of gross income from the primary production enterprise under normal seasonal circumstances, or be a new entrant operating for 12 months to 3 years with more than 50% of gross income expected from the farm business within 3 years
- Gross off-farm assets must not exceed 5000000, excluding registered superannuation funds
- Application must be lodged before commencing the project
- Loans must be fully drawn within 12 months of approval
- Applicant must permit property inspections by the Rural Assistance Authority or authorised persons
- Valid tax invoices used for this application cannot be used to secure funding under another New South Wales Government scheme
- Applicant must provide satisfactory security in accordance with Rural Assistance Authority requirements
- Applicant must demonstrate the works will have a significant beneficial impact on the land and farming business and help prepare for adverse seasonal conditions
- Applicant must demonstrate long-term business viability and capacity to repay the loan
- Proposed works must be part of the Farm Business and Risk Assessment Plan
4
When does the Drought Infrastructure Fund close?
Applications closed on 8 Jan 2025.
5
What activities are funded?
Permanent on-farm capital works such as stock and domestic water supply, bore capping and piping, tank refurbishment, perennial planting, stock containment areas, soil conservation, erosion control, weed control, solar power conversions, fodder storage facilities, farm and shearing sheds, fencing, road works, storm or exclusion netting, irrigation upgrades, tree planting, livestock effluent control, river bank fencing and flood mitigation works.
6
How do I apply for the Drought Infrastructure Fund?
Start by checking your eligibility using the free Beta Docs eligibility checker. If eligible, Beta Docs' AI-powered platform can help you draft, review, and refine your application to maximise your chances of success.
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