Drought Assistance

These NT Drought Assistance Arrangements are as agreed by the Northern Territory Government, reflecting the current Northern Territory Drought Policy.

The objectives of the provision of drought assistance in the NT are consistent with the principle of sustainable development in agriculture and drought policy principles agreed nationally by all Australian Governments.

The broad objectives are to:

• encourage primary producers and those associated with the rural industries to adopt self-reliant approaches in managing risk, especially climatic variability;
• facilitate the maintenance and protection of the agricultural and environmental resource base of the NT during periods of increasing climatic stress; and
• facilitate the early recovery of rural industries consistent with long-term sustainable levels.

The NT Drought Assistance Arrangements comprise:

1. provision of financial support in the form of freight subsidies, grants or loans.
2. the maintenance of a Drought Secretariat within the Department of Resources (DoR) at its Alice Springs Office, to administer these arrangements.
3. programs which will be developed by DoR in consultation with industry and other appropriate agencies to pursue the objectives of the National and NT drought related policies.
4. establishment of an NT Drought Committee comprising representatives of industry and government to advise on drought related matters.

The full details of the program are available from the following link. Please download and read them to assist you in understanding the NT Drought Assistance Arrangements.

• Drought Assistance Program Details (MS Word Format 62k)
  Note that applications for 2009 have closed.
• For drought declared properties, the forms relating to loans and freight subsidies are available from the following links.
• Drought Loan/Grant Application Form (MS Word Format 218k)
• Drought Freight Subsidy Application Form (MS Format 52k)
  Note that grants are not being offered for 2009.

Applications

Applications for drought declaration for 2009 are now closed. Enquiries can be made to:

Executive Director Primary Industries
Department of Resources
Arid Zone Research Institute
PO Box 8760
ALICE SPRINGS NT 0871

Tel 08 89 518111
Fax 08 89 518112

Assistance

Applications for drought assistance under these arrangements should be made in writing using the appropriate forms to:

Michelle Uniacke
Department of Resources
GPO Box 3000
DARWIN NT 0801

Tel: 08 8999 2077
Fax: 08 8999 2010
Email: michelle.uniacke@nt.gov.au

It is strongly recommended that applicants seek advice prior to submitting an application. For some forms of assistance, application forms will need to be sent out to applicants.

Pastoral Water Enhancement Scheme

The Pastoral Water Enhancement Scheme is also relevant to land and water resource management on pastoral properties. You may wish to review this NT Government initiative which offers a subsidy for construction of bores and dams on pastoral properties in the Northern Territory.

For more information please click here.

Exceptional Circumstances (Drought Assistance)

There is no Exceptional Circumstances (Drought) declaration current in the Territory. The Australian Government's Exceptional Circumstances information is located at:

http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought/assistance/business-support/ecirs_policy_guidelines