NSW Rural Assistance Authority – Natural Disaster Relief Loan (Sporting & Recreation Clubs)

This program aims to assist sporting and recreation clubs directly affected by a declared natural disaster. It can help meet the costs of restoring essential club facilities, equipment or other assets that have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster.

The features of the loan include:
- Amount: Up to $10,000 is available
- Term: Up to 5 years
- Interest: 0.82% fixed interest rate for the term of the loan
- Repayments: Monthly repayments of principle and interest
- Fees and charges: No ongoing fees or charges
- Security: An Agreement from the members of the committee that the loan will be repaid

Assistance under this scheme by its nature is not compensatory therefore applicants need to be in urgent and genuine need of assistance.

Applications for assistance must be lodged within six months of the declaration of a natural disaster.

Please refer to the website for the list of declared natural disasters and its closing dates.

Eligible applicants include sports and recreation clubs that must:
- Operate within a Local Government Area that has been declared a natural disaster and intend to re-establish within that Local Government Area.
- Have suffered significant loss or damage as a result of a natural disaster.
- Be unable to effect the necessary repairs or replacements, which are not recoverable through insurance, from their own resources and have exhausted alternative sources of assistance.
- Be in urgent and genuine need of financial assistance.

Assistance is not provided to clubs that have sizable commercial operations or gaming areas – such clubs may include golf clubs, bowling clubs etc.