The Drought Preparedness Grants Scheme aims to help primary producers offset the cost of projects for the purchase, installation or upgrade of permanent capital infrastructure that will improve the drought resilience and preparedness of their primary production business.

The grant aims to assist producers with the cost of implementing on-farm capital improvements and carrying out drought preparedness activities identified in their Farm Business Resilience Plan including the below and as outlined in the guidelines. Please note this is not an exhaustive list.

• water infrastructure including pipes, water tanks, water troughs, new dam construction, drilling a new working bore, water conservation infrastructure and water pumps
• storage, mixing and feeding out equipment for grain, fodder, molasses and other supplements
• grain storage and equipment that improves the ability of the business to manage drought
• reasonable freight components to purchase and install equipment or infrastructure
• consumables including fuel for own machinery used in relation to the drought preparedness project and
• contractor costs or non-salaried employees’ costs directly associated with implementing the drought preparedness project.

A QRIDA Sustainability Loan may be used as the co-contribution to the Drought Preparedness Grant for implementation activities.

The amount of the grant is 25 per cent of the cost of purchasing permanent capital infrastructure, up to a maximum grant amount of $50,000.

To be eligible for a Drought Preparedness Grant, applicants must:

• demonstrate at least one person in the primary production business meets the definition of a primary producer;
• demonstrate an ability to provide the remaining contribution to the grant amount requested;
• demonstrate that any necessary regulatory approvals have been obtained; and
• present a Farm Business Resilience Plan (as outlined in Section 6 of the guidelines), satisfactory to QRIDA.

To be eligible for a Drought Preparedness Grant, applicants must not have:

• made an application to the Department of Primary Industries supported by an invoice issued in the past six month period for assistance under:
  • a freight subsidy under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme
  • the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme;
• previously received a Drought Preparedness Grant for the same project activity, and
• previously received a Drought Preparedness Grant of $50,000.

• Fax: 07 3032 0300
• Email: contact_us@qrida.qld.gov.au