Upper Lachlan Shire small business ineligible for bushfire support grants

The Upper Lachlan Shire has been left off a list of eligible local government areas that includes neighbouring Goulburn Mulwaree, Oberon, Wingecarribee, and Wollondilly.

The National Bushfire Recovery Agency (NBRA) is providing grants to small businesses of up to $10,000 to recover costs associated with bushfire recovery.

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The Green Wattle Creek fire which burned in the north-east of the area was extinguished in February, but not before it had torn through 278,722 hectares in the Southern Highlands and around Wombeyan Caves, near Taralga.

At the time, Upper Lachlan Shire Council mayor John Stafford told the Goulburn Post it had been a difficult time for business.

In March, grants became available for small-businesses in selected fire-affected local government areas.

Susan Reynolds, chair of the Upper Lachlan Business Association questioned the government's decision to hold back. She said between 20-30 businesses were directly affected, however, without summer tourism many others also indirectly suffered.

Read also: Residents share tales of the Green Wattle Creek fire

"The Upper Lachlan was severely impacted by the fires, and businesses, particularly in Crookwell and Taralga," Ms Reynolds said.

"At that time of year, that is a major impact on revenue because it was leading into the school holidays and that's when we get major tourism.

"The impact was beyond our control.. there were recommendations not to travel... people were afraid to leave home," she said.

Ms Reynolds has lobbied both the Member for Goulburn Wendy Tuckerman and the Deputy Premier of NSW John Barilaro.

In July, a media release from the office of Angus Taylor stated the Upper Lachlan Shire was eligible, however, this was deemed a mistake and retracted.

A spokesperson from the NBRA said the Commonwealth and state governments can share the cost of additional local government areas, which can be nominated by the state.

As per August 11, the National Bushfire Recovery Agency had not received a request from the NSW Government to extend grants to the Upper Lachlan Shire.

More to come.

Eligible local government areas in New South Wales:

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