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Funding for councils for drought relief projects
Drought Communities Programme – Extension
The Drought Communities Programme - Extension provides councils with up to either $1 million or $500,000 per announcement for drought relief projects. Funding is available for eligible councils in areas impacted by drought.
The maximum available funding for eligible councils announced in January 2020 is in two tiers:
- Tier one - maximum funding available up to $1 million
- Tier two - maximum funding available up to $500,000
What do you get?
Up to $1 million or $500,000 (depending on the funding announcement) for local community infrastructure and other drought relief projects.
Who is this for?
Eligible councils listed below and invited by the Minister to apply.
Overview
The extension of the Drought Communities Programme provides funding of $301 million to eligible councils for drought-affected regions of Australia. The program supports local community infrastructure and other drought relief projects for communities impacted by drought.
Funding targets projects that:
- provide work for people whose employment has been impacted by drought
- stimulate local community spending
- use local resources, businesses and suppliers
- provide a long-lasting benefit to communities and the agricultural industries they depend on
Eligibility
What are the eligibility criteria?
To be eligible, you must:
- have an Australian business number (ABN) and
- be an eligible council listed on this page (and on GrantConnect) or
- be invited to apply by the Minister.
Eligible projects
To be eligible, your project must:
- be in an eligible council area
- meet project requirements
- include eligible activities and expenditure
- have at least $25,000 per application in eligible expenditure.
You must complete your project by:
- 30 June 2019 for eligible councils announced in 2018
- 31 December 2019 for eligible councils announced in March 2019
- 31 March 2022 for eligible councils announced during the 2019 election campaign
- 31 March 2022 for the eligible councils approved for funding in September 2019
- 31 March 2022 for the eligible councils approved for funding in November 2019
- 31 March 2022 for eligible councils approved for funding in January 2020.
For more information on eligibility and project requirements, check the grant opportunity guidelines.
Eligible councils
The following councils are eligible based on need and the economic impact of drought in the region.
We assess this using:
- rainfall deficiency data from the Bureau of Meteorology
- population and industry data – particularly reliance on agriculture.
The Government monitors drought conditions across the country and may add more councils depending on conditions.
New South Wales
| Armidale Regional | Federation | Murrumbidgee |
| Balranald | Forbes | Musellbrook |
| Bathurst Regional | Gilgandra | Narrabri |
| Bega Valley | Glen Innes Severn Shire | Narrandera |
| Berrigan | Greater Hume | Narromine |
| Bland | Gunnedah | Oberon |
| Blayney | Gwydir | Parkes |
| Bogan | Hay | Richmond Valley |
| Bourke | Hilltops | Snowy Monaro |
| Brewarrina | Inverell | Tamworth Regional |
| Broken Hill | Junee | Temora |
| Cabonne | Kempsey | Tenterfield |
| Carrathool | Kyogle | Unincorporated Far West |
| Central Darling | Lachlan | Upper Hunter |
| Clarence Valley | Leeton | Upper Lachlan |
| Cobar | Lismore | Uralla |
| Coolamon | Lithgow | Walcha |
| Coonamble | Lockhart | Walgett |
| Cootamundra-Gundagai | Liverpool Plains | Warren |
| Cowra | Mid-Western Regional | Warrumbungle |
| Dubbo Regional | Moree Plains | Weddin |
| Edward River | Murray River | Wentworth |
Northern Territory
| Barkly | Central Desert |
Queensland
| Balonne | Flinders | Quilpie |
| Banana | Goondiwindi | Richmond |
| Barcaldine | Lockyer Valley | Scenic Rim |
| Barcoo | Longreach | Somerset |
| Blackall Tambo | Maranoa | South Burnett |
| Boulia | McKinlay | Southern Downs |
| Bulloo | Murweh | Toowoomba |
| Bundaberg | North Burnett | Western Downs |
| Diamantina | Paroo | Winton |
South Australia
| Adelaide Plains | Goyder | Peterborough |
| Alexandrina | Kangaroo Island | Port Pirie City and District |
| Barossa | Karoonda East Murray | Renmark Paringa |
| Barunga West | Kimba | Southern Mallee |
| Berri Barmera | Light | Streaky Bay |
| Ceduna | Loxton Waikerie | Tatiara |
| Clare and Gilbert Valleys | Mid Murray | The Coorong |
| Cleve | Mount Remarkable | Unincorporated Far North SA |
| Copper Coast | Murray Bridge | Wakefield |
| Flinders Ranges | Northern Areas | Wudinna |
| Franklin Harbour | Orroroo/Carrieton | Yorke Peninsula |
Tasmania
| Break O Day | Devonport | Glamorgan Spring Bay |
Victoria
| Benalla | Latrobe | Swan Hill |
| Buloke | Mildura | Wangaratta |
| East Gippsland | Moira | Wellington |
| Gannawarra | Pyrenees | Yarriambiack |
| Greater Shepparton | Strathbogie |
Western Australia
| Albany | Denmark | Lake Grace |
| Beverley | Donnybrook-Balingup | Mingenew* |
| Bridgetown-Greenbushes | Dumbleyung* | Moora |
| Brookton* | Esperance | Nannup |
| Broomhill-Tambellup | Gnowangerup | Narembeen* |
| Bruce Rock* | Irwin | Pingelly |
| Busselton | Jerramungup | Plantagenet |
| Carnamah* | Katanning | Quairading |
| Coorow | Kellerberrin | Ravensthorpe |
| Corrigin | Kent* | Three Springs* |
| Cranbrook | Kojonup | Wickepin* |
| Dandaragan | Kulin* |
*Indicates an LGA with a population of less than 1,000 and funding of up to $500,000. Funding for all other LGAs is up to $1 million.
Applying
How do you apply?
The Drought Communities Programme - Extension has closed to applications.
We’ll assess your application against the eligibility criteria. To be recommended for funding, you must meet all eligibility criteria. The program delegate will make the final decision.
Note: An invitation to apply doesn’t guarantee that your application will be successful.
If you’re successful, we’ll email you and include any specific conditions for your grant.
If you’re unsuccessful, we’ll email you and give you an opportunity to discuss the outcome with us.
Successful applicants must enter into a grant agreement with the Commonwealth.
We’ll pay an initial amount after you’ve signed the agreement. We’ll then make payments in advance, based on your predicted expenses as you complete milestones. Payments will depend on your progress. We’ll adjust payments if you have unspent money from previous payments.
We’ll set aside 10% of the total funding for the final payment. We’ll pay this when you submit a satisfactory final report.
We’ll pay directly into your nominated bank account.
Need help?
Let us answer your question over the phone, email or live chat.
- Phone:
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Open Hours:
Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm across Australia
- Website: