Over $9.2m in business grants program to boost economic development in the Northern Rivers
Fifteen small to medium businesses and three local councils in flood impacted towns and villages across the Northern Rivers are set to share in more than $9.2 million worth of grants thanks to the NSW Government’s Towns and Villages Resilient Business Activation Program.
Announced in September last year, the funding for businesses and local Central Business Districts (CBDs) will be delivered through the Government’s Community Restoration Flood Fund, to help support the economic recovery of villages and town centres in the Northern Rivers with direct activation and revitalisation projects.
The Program is being delivered across the seven most flood impacted Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers including Tweed, Byron, Ballina, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Kyogle, and Clarence Valley, with each reporting the highest average damage and other costs for businesses.
Applicants were required to show how the project would benefit the local community and align with one or more of the Program’s objectives – for example, repair or replace damaged fixed equipment, machinery, or infrastructure needed to keep the business operating or the implementation of flood barriers, elevated foundations, waterproofing, flood resilient doors or windows and drainage systems.
The funding was available through two targeted streams:
- Stream 1 – Infrastructure support for small and medium sized business with grant amounts from $250,000 to $2 million.
- Stream 2 – CBD activation and revitalisation projects delivered by Councils with grant amounts from $50,000 to $500,000.
This was a competitive program, which received more applications than available funding. The NSW Reconstruction Authority engaged the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to govern the delivery and management of the Program.
NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Mal Lanyon said:
“We know that many small and medium businesses are still recovering from the 2022 floods, so this funding is welcome news for those business owners.
“The grants provide practical assistance to undertake repairs or replace key machinery or infrastructure and measure to prevent flood impacts, which is essential to the daily operations and livelihoods of the communities in the Northern Rivers.
“Three councils will be able to revitalise their CBD’s and ensure there are once again great spaces for community to gather through improvements to the visual appeal, usability and safety of public areas.”
| Organisation | Description |
|---|---|
| Lower Richmond River Cane Harvesting Co-operative Ltd | Repairing Flood Damaged Infrastructure and Improving Security at Pimlico Cane Harvesting Control Centre |
| Ballina Shire Council | Revitalising Ballina’s CBD on the corner of River and Martin Streets |
| Ballina Shire Council | Revitalising Wardell’s CBD |
| Silva Portfolios P/L ATF The Silva Family Trust T/as Ballina Waterfront Village & Tourist Park | Flood Mitigation and Future Stability of Ballina Waterfront Village & Tourist Park |
| ReForest Now Limited | A new home for ReForest Now |
| The Pelican Playhouse Inc | The Pelican Playhouse Theatre Rebuild |
| Kyogle Bowling Club Ltd. | Kyogle Bowling Club Kitchen Repairs Project |
| Realising Every Dream Limited (REDinc) | Refurbishment of the Lismore REDinc Hub |
| Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) | NORPA’s The Joinery Stage Zero: Repair and immediate reuse of a historic industrial building as a vital, visionary theatre-making space. |
| Rosada Pty Ltd | Lismore Unlimited - Improving flood resilience and improve the public amenity of the centre |
| Lismore Rugby Club Incorporated | Lismore Rugby Club Flood Resilience Works |
| Ecotechnology Australia Pty Ltd T/As "Ecoteam" | Ecoteam Office Upgrade: Resilient Operation and Safe Flood Storage |
| VOF Operations Pty Ltd as trustee for the VOF Operations Unit Trust | Lismore Gateway Rebuild |
| Lismore Diesel Centre Pty Ltd | Infrastructure Resilience of Lismore Diesel Centre |
| Richmond Valley Council | Broadwater Pedestrian Connection Project |
| Broadwater Sunrise Caravan Park | Restoration of Broadwater Sunrise Caravan Park |
| Richmond Valley Council | Coraki Safety Initiative |
| Condong Bowling Club LTD | Condong Bowling Club - Upgrade and enhance Club Façade, Improve Facility Flood Proofing, and Improve Club Accessibility |
| Tweed River House | Tweed River House (restaurant) Flood Resilience and Community Accessibility Upgrade |
| Tweed Shire Council | Murwillumbah CBD streetscape, street tree replacement and beautification |
| Tweed Shire Council | Grey to Glimmering lighting of historical assets impacted by flooding |