Up to $1.3M is available from the Sustainability Loan to cover capital costs to achieve a more productive and sustainable primary production enterprise.
Sustainability Loan
Sustainability Loan can provide primary producers and commercial fishers in Queensland with finance to cover capital costs required to help them achieve a more productive and sustainable enterprise.
The Sustainability Loan Program is provided under the Primary Industry Productivity Enhancement Scheme. The objective of this scheme is to:
- strengthen the economy of Queensland regions; and
- facilitate the development of sustainable primary production in Queensland.
Objectives
The Sustainability Loan Program aims to help primary producers and commercial fishers:
- improve efficiencies
- upgrade or diversify their operations
- achieve long-term sustainability
Funding
The maximum amount of a Sustainability Loan or the total outstanding loan balances under this program is $1,300,000. The loan term is up to 20 years, and low interest rates are fixed for 1, 3 or 5 years.
Eligible Activities
Eligible activities must be able to demonstrate an enterprise or natural resource sustainability benefit.
Agriculture, Apiculture, Aquaculture, Horticulture, Forestry and Grazing
- Key outcome – Increase productivity and viability:
- Enterprise build-up
- Diversification of enterprise
- Investment in value-adding
- Improving supply chain
- Rationalisation of partnerships
- Expansion of farming operations
- Purchase and upgrade of plant and machinery
- Purchase of equipment
- Purchase of livestock (see Appendix 1 for limitations) or
- Other activities not listed which are intended to increase productivity and viability.
- Key outcome – Minimise impacts on natural resources and ecosystems:
- Reclamation of degraded areas
- Prevention of soil degradation (soil erosion and salinity control)
- Pest plant and animal control
- Vegetation management (tree planting and biodiversity conservation)
- Effluent and waste control and disposal
- Water quality protection (monitoring and runoff control)
- Fencing to separate land types and exclude stock
- Purchase of plant and machinery for land-care purposes
- Development of water supplies, or
- Other activities not listed which are intended to minimise impacts on natural resources and ecosystems.
- Key outcome – Mitigate the effects of climate and market risks:
- Improve commodity storage facilities
- Construct and improve fodder storage facilities
- Best practice systems to minimise the impacts of climate change on production in plant and animal industries (crops and pastures)
- Improve and maintain water supplies
- Equipment for improved water use efficiency
- Alternate systems of energy generation, or
- Other activities not listed which are intended to mitigate the effects of climate and market risks
Commercial Wild – Catch Fishing
- Key outcome – Increase productivity and viability:
- Acquiring a new vessel
- Buying fishing quota
- Installation or modification of equipment
- Upgrade or replace machinery
- Purchase or upgrade of processing machinery/systems
- Improving operational efficiency
- Fisheries development or
- Other activities not listed which are intended to increase productivity and viability.
- Key outcome – Minimise impacts on natural resources and ecosystems:
- Installation of equipment to improve environmental outcomes; or
- Other activities not listed which are intended to minimise impacts on natural resources and ecosystems.
- Key outcome – Mitigate the effects of climate and market risks:
- Construct or improve product storage facilities; or
- Other activities not listed which are intended to mitigate the effects of climate and market risks.
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible for assistance under the program applicants must demonstrate to the satisfaction of QRAA:
- that the applicant is a primary production enterprise; and
- that an interested person for the primary production enterprise is a primary producer; and
- that the primary production enterprise has been carried on for at least two years; and
- sound prospects for commercial viability, and the ability to service the loan, in the long term; and
- that the amount of the primary production enterprise’s non-enterprise or liquid assets is not more than the amount needed for prudent risk management; and
- if the assistance is sought to rationalise a partnership, that the proposal for the rationalisation is not merely a refinance arrangement; and
- if the assistance is sought to upgrade, replace or purchase plant and machinery, the plant and machinery will be used predominately for the enterprise.
Applicants under the program must also:
- demonstrate financial need for the assistance; and
- provide a management plan that outlines the intended outcomes associated with the proposed activities; and
- if the assistance is sought for on-farm activities for which a licence, permit, approval or other authorisation under an Act is required before the activity can be conducted, provide QRAA with a copy of the authorisation obtained from an appropriate officer.
Timing
Applications open on an ongoing basis.
More Information
- Source
- Program Guidelines
