Disaster support for businesses affected by Tropical Cyclone Narelle

There is a range of support available to help people affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle in the emergency regions.

The shires of Exmouth, Carnarvon and Shark Bay are now eligible for recovery assistance measures through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements

Under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), disaster assistance can be made available for individuals and families, businesses, local government, and State Government agencies impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

The Emergency WA Cyclone Narelle Recovery webpage details who affected community members can talk to and what support is available for cyclone recovery. 

Available support includes:

• Interest rate subsidies available for directly impacted small businesses, as well as assistance for local and State government agencies to support the repair of essential public assets damaged by the cyclone.
• Emergency assistance for eligible individuals and families to help meet their immediate and essential needs.
• Wellbeing services and financial assistance for impacted residents to replace essential household items and support minor home repairs. Financial assistance is means tested and requires proof of damage.
• Impacted residents can contact the Department of Communities Disaster Relief Hotline on 1800 032 965 to discuss wellbeing and assistance measures and eligibility requirements.

Cyclone Narelle Tourism Business Support Package

The State Government has announced a $1.45 million tourism support package to help eligible tourism operators impacted by access closures from the Shires of Carnarvon, Exmouth, Ashburton and Upper Gascoyne. This includes:

• A one off business survival support payments of up to $10,000 for businesses employing under four workers and up to $20,000 for businesses employing four or more staff.
• A consumer incentive voucher program offering visitors 50 per cent off select tours and experiences and supporting marketing campaigns encouraging visitors to explore and support the Coral Coast region. 

More information about this support package is coming soon.

Premier’s Natural Disaster Recovery Fund

Financial assistance is available to help eligible local businesses, households and community groups recover from the impacts of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. This includes

• $5,000 to small businesses and community groups to help with repairs and immediate recovery
• $10,000 to residents whose homes suffered major damage
• $20,000 to residents whose home has been severely damaged or destroyed

Find out more and apply:

• Small business and community service organisations
• Households

Small Business Interest Rate Subsidy

Small business owners whose assets or premises have been directly impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, may be eligible to receive an interest rate subsidy on new loans taken out to repair damaged assets or support business continuity.

For details on eligibility and how to apply, contact the DFES Recovery Funding team on 1800 920 659 or drfawa@dfes.wa.gov.au.

This program is jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. 

Further assistance

The WA Government is continuing to liaise with impacted local and State government agencies to determine the full extent of the impacts. Further assistance measures may be made available if required.

Business support in your region

Our SBDC Regional business advisory service can provide free and confidential business advice to help you manage business disruption and other impacts of the cyclone. Their services include one to one advice delivered online, over the phone and face to face. 

Access SBDC Regional support in the Mid West and Gascoyne.

You can also access free advice from one of our SBDC business advisers by calling 133 140. 

Resources to help you deal with an unexpected event

We have a range of free resources to help business owners managing the impacts of natural disasters and/or unexpected events. These include:

• Disaster recovery tips for small business
• Disaster recovery checklist
• Business continuity plan template and guide on how to use our template
• What to do if your business premises are closed by disaster

Photo credit: Geoscience Australia, Australian Government.