The Federal Government is offering millions of dollars more in grants to local councils impacted by the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said $280 million is on the table for councils to assist bushfire impacted communities continue their recovery.

“The 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires were devastating to many communities and it can take time for communities to recover after such a disaster.

“These grants are an opportunity for communities, which still require assistance, to access support for their recovery journey.

“Councils which fall into the Category One Funding Envelope will each receive up to $4.5 million while councils less impacted by the fires, in Category Two, will each receive up to $1.6 million,” Mr Joyce said.

In the New England electorate, Armidale, Glen Innes and Tenterfield Councils are eligible for the higher $4.5 million allocation, while Gwydir, Inverell, Tamworth, Upper Hunter, Uralla and Walcha Councils qualify for up to $1.6 million under Category Two.

The guidelines and a preview application form are available on the Business Grants Hub website at https://business.gov.au/bsbr. Applications close on 2 September and the recovery projects must be completed by 31 March 2024.

Mr Joyce said a broad range of recovery and resilience projects can be supported through the grants – from social and community wellbeing projects through to those that support the recovery of local economies and built environments.

“The Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants are funded from the National Bushfire Recovery fund.

“More than $1.6 billion of the fund has now been spent, with more than $2.3 billion in Australian Government funding rolling out to communities in support of bushfire recovery projects,” Mr Joyce concluded.