Early Needs Recovery Program

What support is available under the Early Needs Recovery Program?

The Early Needs Recovery program will offer a range of opportunities including:

• landscape scale pest, weed and disease control programs
• field days, paddock walks, site visits, webinars and one-on-one discussions
• workshops and seminars
• industry tailored initiatives.

Who can apply for the Early Needs Recovery Program?

Primary producers located in the North Coast, Hunter, Greater Sydney, and South East regions are the focus of the program.

The services provided under the Early Needs program will be delivered by Local Lands Services in partnership with industry to ensure that the unique recovery needs of the most impacted sectors in these regions are met.

The program will also provide funding for volunteer-based organisations that provide recovery services to assist producers, such as fencing replacement and other infrastructure. Up to $1 million is available for not-for-profit organisations for rebuilding initiatives that support flood-affected primary producers.

Recent work carried out by the Early Needs Recovery Program

Dec 22 - Jan 23

The Early Needs Recovery Program is providing support and services to assist primary producers throughout the East Coast of NSW. Some of the recent achievements include:

• Providing one-on-one consultancy services to over 50 of the most severely impacted dairy farmers on the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter regions.
• Facilitation of 17 workshops and farm walks with over 340 participants throughout North Coast, South East and Hunter regions.
• Grant funding assessment complete for not-for-profits to clear, repair and re-build 660km of damaged fences.
• Assessment of grants for industry underway to support recovery, rebuilding and resilience efforts.
• Engagement with landholders at local events across Hunter, Greater Sydney, South East and North Coast, including over 800 at Primex.
• Recruitment of 2 (FTE) new staff, bringing total on-ground staff to 11.5 (FTE) to deliver biosecurity, animal health, agronomy, invasive pests and weeds services.
• Supported DPI to undertake pest and disease investigations on 31 farms growing berries, bananas, avocados and macadamias across the North Coast region.
• Sampling and testing across 12 dairy farms in the South East to determine, monitor and treat scour-causing pathogens in dairy calves.
• Engagement with landholders at local events across Hunter, Greater Sydney, South East and North Coast, including over 800 at Primex.
• On-going weed control work and surveillance in the North Coast and Hunter regions.
• Sharing regular updates with impacted primary producers through channels including newsletters, social media and stakeholder updates.

Upcoming priorities for the Program include:

• Finalising successful Industry Grant recipients.
• Working closely with industry bodies and not-for-profit organisations to develop and deliver support activities.
• Development of pest animal surveillance and control programs, with a focus on feral pigs and cane toads throughout the North Coast.
• Plant pest surveillance and management programs being developed for Greater Sydney.
• Attendance at key fields days and events across the North Coast, Hunter, Greater Sydney and South East.
• Recruitment is underway for a further 2 FTE staff in the Hunter and South East to delivery on ground support

Industry grants

The $3.2 million Industry Grants (the program) is part of the Early Needs Recovery Program (ENRP) and seeks to support industry organisations impacted by the February 2022 flooding event in NSW (AGRN 1012). The program provides an opportunity for each impacted industry to determine and facilitate tailored projects and activities to ensure the unique recovery needs of their primary producers are met.

The program is offering a targeted, competitive grant opportunity offered over one round of funding. Each industry is allocated a specific portion of the $3.2 million available based on impact data supplied after the February 2022 flooding event in NSW.

Applications for this program have now closed and are currently undergoing assessment. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application and a public announcement of successful applicants will be made in due course.

For more information about this program, please contact Kiera Turner 0492 166 068 or Peta Holcombe 0456 760 556 from the Early Needs Recovery Program team or email recovery@lls.nsw.gov.au

Fence Rebuilding Program (not-for-profits) Grants

Following a competitive grant process, BlazeAid, ShoreTrack, and Rotary Australia have secured funding through the Fence Rebuilding Program (the program) to co-ordinate and complete on ground fencing work along the east coast of NSW

These organisations have been, and will continue to work with local landholders in flood impacted areas to clear debris, remove, repair and replace up to 660km of damaged fences. This important fencing work will be carried out by teams of volunteers and will help primary producers to regain productivity sooner as well as allow them to concentrate on other parts of their business.

It is anticipated up to 560 primary producers will be assisted as part of the program which will run until April 2024. The Fence Rebuilding Program is part of the Early Needs Recovery Program and is supporting volunteer-based not-for-profit organisations who are providing assistance to primary producers to repair and rebuild fences that received direct damage from the severe weather and floods that occurred from 22 February 2022 onwards (AGRN 1012).

For more information about this program, please contact Lana Andrews 0417 328 615 or Peta Holcombe 0456 760 556 or email recovery@lls.nsw.gov.au