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The Australian Government and the governments of NSW, South Australia, Queensland and ACT have agreed to extend the 30 June 2024 delivery deadline to return the 450 GL of water to the environment under the Murray Darling Basin Plan to 31 December 2027.

The Australian Government’s Off-farm Efficiency Program is a $1.54 billion initiative to upgrade water infrastructure to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment. The program has three streams including $1.33 billion for state-led projects (open) and $150 million for grants provided direct to applicants (now closed). A further $60 million is available for on-farm projects, however NSW Government will not progress applications under this stream.

Projects funded under the program will provide long-term benefits through improved water infrastructure and reduced water losses. Water users and the community will also benefit from increased water reliability and the creation of job opportunities.

The program aims to:

• improve and modernise water delivery systems and reduce water losses to increase the volume of available water for the environment, irrigation, urban and industrial networks, irrigators and communities
• drive employment and create infrastructure opportunities for local communities through funding arrangements for suitable projects
• deliver on the NSW Government’s commitment to the Murray Darling Basin Plan to contribute to the return of 450 GL to the environment by June 2024.

The program is open to individuals and entities in the irrigation, urban and manufacturing sectors across the Murray Darling Basin for projects that will achieve water efficiencies and return water to the environment.

The following types of projects are eligible to apply for funding under the program:

• Irrigation networks: installing new, or upgrading existing, irrigation infrastructure and technology in water delivery networks to supply water to irrigators, including permanently decommissioning inefficient or underused sections of a water delivery network
• Industrial or mining: constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving, or refurbishing industrial water uses, including reducing leakage, for the purpose of using water for producing goods and services
• Urban: constructing, replacing, upgrading, installing, improving, or refurbishing urban water supply arrangements, including reducing leakage for the purpose of urban water supply
• Stock and domestic: improving stock and domestic water supply on one or more properties for the purpose of watering stock and supplying water for human use.

Feasibility funding is available to help identify early project opportunities to reduce water losses and increase water available for the environment in the Murray-Darling Basin. This can include investigations into improving infrastructure, confirming water losses and savings, informing the potential costs of construction, and supporting formal discussions with stakeholders.

Some on-property projects are eligible such as the installation or replacement of pipes, tanks and troughs for stock and domestic systems These are considered ‘off-farm’ activities as stock and domestic water entitlements are not tradeable and do not impact the water market. Individuals or organisations proposing on-property stock and domestic projects to improve water delivery and reduce water losses are encouraged to contact winsw.programs@dpie.nsw.gov.au for more information.

Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

This low interest rate loan can help a small business:

• return to its normal level of trading or until the next major income is received within 12 months from the date of disaster
• replace and repair damage caused to your small business and associated improvements not covered by insurance.

A repayment term of up to ten years is available dependent upon the amount borrowed and the applicant’s ability to repay.

The repayment term is preceded by a two-year interest and repayment free period.

A list of declared disasters and the associated closing dates for applications is available on the Rural Assistance Authority website.

Small businesses who have been directly affected by a declared natural disaster including floods, fires or storm damage, may be eligible for low interest loans of up to $130,000.

This low interest rate loan can help a small business:

• return to its normal level of trading or until the next major income is received within 12 months from the date of disaster
• replace and repair damage caused to your small business and associated improvements not covered by insurance.

A repayment term of up to ten years is available dependent upon the amount borrowed and the applicant’s ability to repay.

The repayment term is preceded by a two-year interest and repayment free period.

A list of declared disasters and the relevant application close dates are available of the Rural Assistance Authority's website.

Natural disaster relief loans assist voluntary non-profit organisations directly affected by a declared natural disaster including flood, fire or storm damage.

Low interest rate loans are available:

• for the restoration of essential facilities that have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster
• and may also be directed towards temporary storage or leasing of alternate premises

A repayment term of up to five years is available dependent upon the amount borrowed and the applicant’s ability to repay.

A list of declared disasters and the associated closing dates for applications is available on the Rural Assistance Authority website.

The Workplace Legal Advice Program provides eligible employers and employees with free independent legal help to deal with workplace issues. 

The service is only for employment issues that involve:

• dismissal
• general protections
• bullying at work
• sexual harassment at work.

Law firms with specialist workplace experience provide the advice. It is free and confidential.

The objective of the program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.

The intended outcome of the grant opportunity is to provide funding for projects and activities that:

• promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who served have played
• preserve, add to the sum of knowledge on, or provide access to information about Australia’s wartime heritage.

Projects and activities relating to all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations are eligible.

The program aims to provide funding for projects and activities that are ready to proceed and where STS grant funding will ensure their completion. Projects must be able to be completed within 12 months of the funding agreement being executed.

There are 2 categories of grants available under the program:

Community Grants (CG)
Grants to a maximum of $10,000 are available for local, community-based projects and activities. These small grants are for projects and activities that are focused on the local community, commemorate the service and sacrifice of local community members, and are primarily accessed by the local community.

Some examples of CG projects and activities include:

• development of a digital honour roll
• restoration of an honour board
• purchase of a cabinet to display military memorabilia
• installation of a flagpole to display Australian National Flags on days of commemoration.

Major Grants (MG)
Grants between $10,001 and $150,000 are available for major commemorative projects and activities that are significant from a national, state, territory and/or broader regional perspective. These projects may include the construction of new war or peace memorials, where none currently exists, as well as additions to existing memorials.

Major Grants will have a much wider focus than CG category applications and must be commemorative of the service and sacrifice of service personnel beyond the local community, and/or consist of elements that are available to the whole nation, or residents of a state, territory, or broader regional area. A high monetary value project or activity does not necessarily mean that it is of national, state, territory and/or significant to a broader region.

Some examples of MG projects and activities include:

• construction of an interactive memorial walking track dedicated to Australian service personnel from the Vietnam War
• development of a digital honour roll and interpretive signage to commemorate the history of service personnel from a particular region
• publication of a book commemorating Australian service personnel from the Malayan Emergency
• development of a documentary commemorating Australian Prisoners of War.

Assessment and notification of outcomes will be divided into 3 batches closing in June 2024, October 2024 and February 2025.

The objective of the program is to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australia’s service personnel in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and their families.

The intended outcome of the grant opportunity is to provide funding for projects and activities that:

• promote appreciation and understanding of the experiences of service and the roles that those who served have played
• preserve, add to the sum of knowledge on, or provide access to information about Australia’s wartime heritage.

Projects and activities relating to all wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations are eligible.

The program aims to provide funding for projects and activities that are ready to proceed and where STS grant funding will ensure their completion. Projects must be able to be completed within 12 months of the funding agreement being executed.

There are 2 categories of grants available under the program:

Community Grants (CG)
Grants to a maximum of $10,000 are available for local, community-based projects and activities. These small grants are for projects and activities that are focused on the local community, commemorate the service and sacrifice of local community members, and are primarily accessed by the local community.

Some examples of CG projects and activities include:

• development of a digital honour roll
• restoration of an honour board
• purchase of a cabinet to display military memorabilia
• installation of a flagpole to display Australian National Flags on days of commemoration.

Major Grants (MG)
Grants between $10,001 and $150,000 are available for major commemorative projects and activities that are significant from a national, state, territory and/or broader regional perspective. These projects may include the construction of new war or peace memorials, where none currently exists, as well as additions to existing memorials.

Major Grants will have a much wider focus than CG category applications and must be commemorative of the service and sacrifice of service personnel beyond the local community, and/or consist of elements that are available to the whole nation, or residents of a state, territory, or broader regional area. A high monetary value project or activity does not necessarily mean that it is of national, state, territory and/or significant to a broader region.

Some examples of MG projects and activities include:

• construction of an interactive memorial walking track dedicated to Australian service personnel from the Vietnam War
• development of a digital honour roll and interpretive signage to commemorate the history of service personnel from a particular region
• publication of a book commemorating Australian service personnel from the Malayan Emergency
• development of a documentary commemorating Australian Prisoners of War.

Assessment and notification of outcomes will be divided into 3 batches closing in June 2024, October 2024 and February 2025.

If you are a primary producer, you may be entitled to claim an immediate deduction for capital expenses incurred on fencing and fodder storage assets.

Your deduction is limited to the capital expenses you incur for:

• construction
• manufacture
• installation
• acquisition.

The expense must have been incurred primarily and principally for use in a primary production business conducted on land in Australia.

his loan scheme aims to support plantation expansion across Australia and increase domestic wood supply and the growth of regional economies and communities.

Loans are available for:

• purchasing land for developing a plantation
• costs involved in establishing a plantation
• replanting bushfire damaged plantations as a result of the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.

Eligible activities may include:

• purchase of land for developing a plantation
• site preparation
• fencing
• roading
• installing irrigation or drainage systems
• purchase and planting of seeds
• payment of labour
• insurance costs
• other working capital.

The Farm Management Deposit (FMD) Scheme assists primary producers to deal more effectively with fluctuations in cash flows. It is designed to increase the self-reliance of Australian primary producers by helping them manage their financial risk and meet their business costs in low-income years by building up cash reserves.

The scheme allows eligible primary producers to set aside pre-tax income which they can draw on in future years when they need it, such as for restocking or replanting when conditions start to improve.

Income deposited into an FMD account is tax deductible in the financial year the deposit is made. It becomes taxable income in the financial year in which it is withdrawn (repaid).

The WIP Doctor Stream makes direct payments to doctors who deliver eligible services in eligible locations.

The WIP Doctor Stream aims to encourage doctors to practise in regional rural and remote communities. It also promotes careers in rural medicine by providing financial incentives. For doctors to receive incentive payments, they must provide eligible services in eligible locations. We determine the locations using the Modified Monash Model (MM 2019) geographical classification system.

You can receive incentive payments of between $3,600 and $60,000 per year, depending on activity levels, location,  how long a doctor has been part of the program and, from 1 January 2024, a doctor’s vocational registration status.

It uses 2 systems to assess and pay these financial incentives:

• Central Payment System (CPS) – for doctors who bill the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for eligible services.
• Flexible Payment System (FPS) – for doctors who provide eligible services and/or undertake training that is not reflected in the MBS.

Some doctors may provide services under both payment systems.

Payments are based on:

• activity levels within eligible locations
• how long a doctor has been part of the program and, from 1 January 2024
• a doctor’s vocational registration status (starting from 1 January 2024).

The WIP Doctor Stream replaced the General Practice Rural Incentives Program (GPRIP) in early 2020.

Agristarter Loans provide farmers with loans to either assist them in starting their own farming business or to plan for and implement succession arrangements.

There are 2 kinds of Agristarter loans:

• first farmer - loans for indivduals seeking to purchase, establish or develop a farm business in which they will hold the sole or controlling interest
• sucession - loans for farm businesses planning for, or undertaking succesion arrangements

Loans may be used to:

• buy an existing farm business
• establish a new farm business
• buy out relatives during farm business succession
• pay costs associated with the succession planning process
• pay for legal costs or stamp duty

These grants support the delivery of the NSW Illegal Dumping Prevention Strategy 2022-27 and contribute to two of the key focus areas of the strategy:

1. Reducing kerbside illegal dumping activities ​
2. Reducing public land and bushland illegal dumping activities

The four grants streams aim to support local government and state government agencies to:

• gather baseline and ongoing data on the size of their illegal dumping problem
• develop a business case for investment in illegal dumping prevention
• proactively target localised illegal dumping issues
• collaboratively address illegal dumping across land tenures
• encourage entities to undertake illegal dumping prevention projects if they have not done so before

This is a new grant stream to run a collaborative project addressing illegal dumping across multiple land tenures for groups of organisations (including local councils, groupings of councils and state government agencies). Partners can include entities that do not manage public land such as community groups, Local Aboriginal Land Councils or charities, but the purpose of their participation must be to prevent dumping on public land.

The Drought Infrastructure Fund is a long term, low interest loan product supporting NSW farmers to invest in permanent on-farm infrastructure that will:

• manage adverse seasonal conditions - improve water efficiencies with irrigation systems, cap and piping of bores, new dams, install water tanks and desilting of ground tanks
• ensure long term sustainability - increase the viability of a farm business and improve pasture and soil health, plant trees for shade and wildlife corridors, eradicate weeds, flood proof property and fence river banks.
• improve farm productivity - reduce risks and improve efficiencies by building fodder and grain storage facilities, sheds, fencing, roadworks and solar power conversions.

Eligible producers can borrow up to $1 million per project, with a total of $1 million outstanding at any one time to build on-farm infrastructure, including stock containment areas. A 2.5% fixed interest rate is applied to Drought Infrastructure Fund loans which can be repaid over a period of 20 years.

Skills Development Grants provide funding to volunteer museums, museum networks, and Aboriginal cultural spaces for regional or state focused skill development training and networking events involving more than one organisation.

There are no set categories for funding, and applications for a broad range of projects will be considered.

Skills Development Grants can be applied for at any time throughout the year, until the cut-off date of the 27 October 2024, or all funds are expended.

Skills Development Grant applications must be received by M&G NSW at least 6 weeks before the activity/event (e.g. conference, workshop, seminar) is scheduled to take place. Activities funded by 2024 Skills Development Grants must take place between March 2024 and January 2025. Acquittals are due two months after the activity.