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Northern Tablelands Small Areas
The exceptional circumstances declaration for the Northern Tablelands Small areas was recently extended by
the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
All producers in the declared area are eligible to apply for income support payments and interest rate subsidies.
Agriculture-dependent small business operators who derive 70 per cent of their turnover from agriculture in any EC declared area are also eligible to apply for income support payments and interest rate subsidies.
Note: If your small business: is located in a town that is substantially reliant on farm incomes and has a population of 10,000 or less; and is in an EC area (including prima facie and interim assistance areas); and can demonstrate a significant downturn in income due to the drought, you may be eligible for assistance.
Producers and small business operators should not self-assess their eligibility for income support but should call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16.
For more information on interest rate subsidies please contact your state rural assistance authority.
All producers and small business operators should note the following deadlines:
| Applicant | EC Relief Payment expiry | EC Interest Rate Subsidy Applications Close |
|---|---|---|
| Producers Small Businesses |
31 March 2009 | Year 1: 23 October 2007 Year 2: 30 September 2008* Year 3: 31 March 2009* |
* A 28-day grace period applies to the closing date for EC Interest Rate Subsidy applications.
Area Description
The Northern Tablelands Small Areas EC declared area covers those parts of Armidale and Northern New England RLPB Districts not previously EC declared. These include: Division B of the Armidale RLPB; and Division D of the Northern New England RLPB.
Buffer Zone
A Buffer Zone covers properties wholly or partly within an area approximately ten kilometres to the west of the New England Highway and south of the Bruxner Highway, and where in the opinion of the NSWRAA the farm enterprise has suffered a downturn in income caused by the EC event.
Download the Northern Tablelands Small Areas EC declared area map 
PDF [296kb]