Up to a maximum of $75,000 in grant funding is now available to eligible primary producers in areas directly affected by the NSW bushfires and other declared Natural Disasters. Grants are designed to help primary producers pay for immediate costs associated with property clean-up, reinstatement activities and other emergency measures, such as disposing of dead stock, and rebuilding or replacing damaged or destroyed on-farm infrastructure. Applications close 31 July 2020. Information - https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/special-disaster-grant-bushfires Online application form - https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/disaster-assistance/special-disaster-grant-bushfires/special-disaster-grant-bushfires

Grants of up to $50,000 are available to eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations that have suffered direct damage to their premises or equipment as a result of the NSW bushfires. Grants are designed to help cover the costs associated with the clean-up and reinstatement of entities’ operations, such as the removal and disposal of damaged goods and materials, the hire or purchase of essential goods and/or replacing stock needed to resume operations.

Information - https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-bushfire-recovery-grant-directly-impacted-small-businesses#introduction

The Commission has adjusted its schedule in line with current health advice to limit public gatherings. The Commission has now extended the closing date for the public submission period by two weeks to 17 April 2020. Submissions can be made through the Royal Commission's online submission portal at https://naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au/submissions.

Contact details for enquires about the Royal Commission:
Email: rcnda.enquiries@royalcommission.gov.au
Post: Locked Bag 2000, Manuka, ACT 2603
Call: 1800 909 826 (note this information line is currently operating on a call-back basis due to staffing arrangements relating to coronavirus).

Although Council has closed its in-person access at our Administration Building in Windsor, essential services including any bushfire recovery enquiries will be maintained.

Council encourages our community to use our online services at www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au or contact us by calling our Customer Service Team on 4560 4444 or by email to council@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Hawkesbury City Council is required to cancel the community session that was planned for Tuesday, 24 March at the Hawkesbury Digital Domain at the Deerubbin Centre.

This is a precautionary measure for community members and Council staff due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus).

In place of the drop in face-to-face session, Council is providing a phone assistance service for

1. the NSW Government’s Bushfires Inquiry and

2. the Federal Government’s Bushfires Royal Commission.

Please call Council’s Customer Service on 4560 4444 for assistance.

NSW Bushfire Inquiry Submission are open until Friday, 27 March 2020.

NSW Inquiry submissions can be made at any time at

www.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw/projects-and-initiatives/make-a-submission-to-the-bushfire-inquiryor by calling 13 77 88 or via email inquiries@bushfireinquiry.nsw.gov.au

or in person at any Service NSW service centre or at a Mobile Service Centre.

Royal Commission Submissions open until Friday, 3 April 2020.

Community members now have the chance to make submissions to the Federal Government’s Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, also known as the Bushfires Royal Commission. Hawkesbury City Council is encouraging community members to make submissions.

Royal Commission submissions can be made at any time at https://naturaldisaster.royalcommission.gov.au/submissions

or call 1800 909 826 to make a Royal Commission submission over the phone or to request a hard copy form.

Council is also making hard copy submission forms for both the NSW Inquiry and the Federal Government’s Royal Commission available at various locations in the Hawkesbury including Council’s Administration Building, Hawkesbury Central Library Windsor, Richmond Branch Library and central locations in Colo, Bilpin, Kurrajong, Kurrajong Heights and St Albans. The forms are also available on Council’s website www.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

Hawkesbury City Council will be postponing major events with an expected attendance of 500 people or more following the advice from the Federal and State Government regarding the Coronavirus (COVID 19).

This includes the ‘Hawkesbury Thank You Parade & Festival’ which was due to take place on Sunday, 29th March.

Updates on rescheduling Council’s major events will be available onwww.hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

The Australia Government's (Services Australia) Mobile Service Centre is visiting several locations in the Hawkesbury this month. Residents can find out about payments that they may be entitled to and can also receive assistance creating their own myGov account. Dates and locations are as follows:

Bilpin Community Hall Precinct, Bells Line of Road - Wednesday, 25 March
Colo Heights Community Hall Precinct, Putty Road - Thursday, 26 March
Archibald Hotel car park, Bells Line of Road, Kurrajong Heights - Friday, 27 March