Help at hand for Rural Bank customers impacted by flooding
Help at hand for Rural Bank customers impacted by flooding
Rural Bank customers affected by major flooding across south eastern Qld, NSW and south east Victoria as a result of the continuing extreme weather events, are being offered assistance via a range of options.
Alexandra Gartmann, CEO Rural Bank & Group Executive, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank said “We are offering Rural Bank customers relief for up to three months during the recovery process with bespoke assistance available for borrowers on affected properties.
“Farm businesses and other agribusinesses will be impacted in different ways, so I urge Rural Bank customers to contact their relationship manager who will work closely with you to develop an assistance plan to ease the financial burden.
“Assistance includes discounted interest rates, fee waivers, and other concessions. Customers with insurance claims should contact their insurers as soon as possible”, Ms Gartmann concluded.
In addition, the wider Bendigo and Adelaide Bank has announced a Flood Appeal to help those in communities impacted by the floods.
“We have established the Appeal to provide people with easily accessible online and physical locations through which they can make a monetary donation to help those impacted. Funds raised will be directed to support recovery in the most practical way possible, both immediate and in the medium and longer term.
“Monetary donations are more effective and logistically, provide far more flexibility than donations of material items or pre-loved goods. The Bank stands ready to give a hand up to all those affected and to ensuring the long-term recovery of these communities, in line with our commitment to Australian communities for more than 160 years”, Ms Gartmann concluded.
Donations can be made in any Bendigo Bank branch and online at: www.bendigobank.com.au/floodappeal All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
State and Federal Government Assistance
NSW residents adversely affected by the flooding can claim Government relief payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 for each child younger than 16 years of age by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66 or visiting the Services Australia website.
NSW residents adversely affected by the flooding can claim Government relief payments of $1,000 per adult and $400 for each child younger than 16 years of age by calling Services Australia on 180 22 66 or visiting the Services Australia website.
Special Disaster Grants for Primary Producers
NSW and Australian Governments announced the availability of Special Disaster Grants (SDG) of up to $75,000 to support eligible primary producers impacted by the March 2021 storms and floods.
Eligible primary producers recovering from the devastating impacts of floods may receive vital support to help pay for immediate clean-up and repairs to infrastructure.
These grants will be available through the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) to eligible flood-affected local government areas in NSW.
Please visit the RAA’s Declared Natural Disasters webpage for a full list of eligible LGAs and the Special Disaster Grants – Floods webpage which will be updated as information becomes available.
Small Business Grants
Grants of up to $50,000 for eligible small business owners and not-for-profit organisations are available through Service NSW.
For more information contact the Disaster Customer Care Service on 13 77 88 or visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/.
DPI and LLS have developed a Natural Disaster Assistance Guide for Primary Producers providing recovery advice and information for landholders and primary producers including commercial fishers, aquaculturalists, foresters and other industries impacted by the recent storms and floods.
Lifeline's 24/7 telephone crisis support service is also available on 13 11 14.
Lifeline’s 24/7 telephone crisis support service is also available on 13 11 14
Disclaimer
The Flood Appeal is a management account of Community Enterprise Foundation™ ABN 69 694 230 518, The Bendigo Centre, PO Box 480, Bendigo, Vic 3552. The Foundation will make distributions by way of grants, following receipt of applications from organisations endorsed with an Item 1 Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). All grants administered by the Foundation on behalf of Sandhurst Trustees Limited, as trustee. Sandhurst Trustees Limited ABN 16 004 030 737 a subsidiary of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178
