Cyclone Narelle Recovery

The Severe Tropical Cyclone (STC) Narelle Resilience and Recovery Fund (the Fund) is intended to support locally led recovery from STC Narelle, while also strengthening longer-term resilience.  

Supported by a donation from Rio Tinto, the Fund will deliver financial assistance to the Shires of Ashburton, Exmouth and Carnarvon and eligible entities for projects and activities that support recovery, resilience and preparedness.

‍The Fund includes the following two streams of assistance:

‍Social, Economic and Environment Recovery Flexible Grants - Applications close 6 July 2026

Minimum $2,500 up to a maximum $50,000

This flexible grant program is designed to enable local governments, local service providers, sports clubs and community organisations to deliver activities and events that support communities to recover, reconnect and build resilience for the future.

The following entities may be eligible to apply for grants under the Fund:

• Shires of Ashburton, Exmouth and Carnarvon
• Incorporated non-profit organisations
• Community organisations, including environmental and sporting groups, operating within impacted communities
• Industry bodies or peak organisations that support businesses or groups in the impacted areas, where funding is sort solely for the delivery of services to impacted communities

Local Government Recovery Support

Up to $150,000 per activity; up to $300,000 for the Shires of Ashburton, Exmouth and Carnarvon‍

This stream supports local governments to address unfunded recovery priorities arising from STC Narelle, including activities in Local Operational Recovery Plans.

Financial assistance is available for eligible residents whose homes were destroyed or suffered serious damage as a direct result of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle, as well as for local small businesses and community organisations whose place of business was damaged. The payments support those impacted get back on their feet and provide financial relief while insurance assessments and claims are underway.

• A payment of $20,000 is available for residents whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed
• A payment of $10,000 is available for residents whose homes suffered major damage
• A minimum payment of $5,000 is available for local businesses and community groups to help with repairs and immediate recovery

Further information
Australian Red Cross administer payments to households and the Western Australian Council of Social Services (WACOSS) administer payments to community organisations and local small businesses.

For eligibility criteria and to apply for household payment
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Web: https://www.redcross.org.au/recoveryfundwa/
Email: cva@redcross.org.au‍

For eligibility criteria and to apply for business or community organisation payment
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Web: https://www.wacoss.org.au/projects/pndrf/
Email: grants-pndrf@wacoss.org.au
Phone: 0492 889 432

The Premier’s Relief Payment is available to provide financial assistance to eligible residents whose dwelling was directly damaged or destroyed by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The payment is available to help residents pay for food, clothing, personal effects, transport and emergency accommodation.

• a one-off payment of $4,000 per household is available to eligible applicants whose home was destroyed or suffered severe damage.
• a one-off payment of $2,000 per household is available to eligible applicants whose home suffered major damage.

The STC Narelle Disaster Recovery Assistance Program for Primary Producers, has made available a grant of up to $40,000 for each impacted local primary producer to help cover the costs of eligible clean-up and reinstatement activities directly resulting from the cyclone.

The grant is for eligible primary producers in the shires of Exmouth, Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Ashburton and Upper Gascoyne.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is a one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who have been adversely affected by a major disaster either in Australia or overseas.

The AGDRP has been activated to support those who have been directly impacted by the rainfall and flooding of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

This includes those who have experienced major damage to their home, serious injury, or loss of a loved one as a direct result of the rainfall and flooding.

The AGDRP is available for eligible people in the following locations:

• Carnarvon, Coral Bay, Inggarda, Kennedy Range, Lyndon, Minilya, North Plantations, Wooramel, and Yandoo Creek in the Canarvon Local Government Area (LGA).
• Exmouth, Learmonth, North West Cape in the Exmouth LGA.

Impacted small and medium business owners in the Shires of Ashburton, Carnarvon, Exmouth and Upper Gascoyne may be eligible for grants of up to $20,000 to assist with clean-up, repairs and reinstatement of business activities.

Businesses in Exmouth that have a direct connection to tourism and not eligible for funding under the Tourism Business Support Package, and that have suffered economic loss due to STC Narelle, may also be eligible for financial assistance of up to $20,000.

Additionally, the program will provide funding for financial advice and counselling services to eligible businesses and primary producers to help affected businesses stabilise, make informed recovery decisions and plan for longer- term viability.

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The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is a short term payment to support individuals who've lost income as a direct result of Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle.

The DRA provides up to 13 weeks of income support for workers and sole traders, depending on their personal circumstances.

The DRA is available for eligible people in the following Local Government Areas:

• Ashburton
• Carnarvon
• Exmouth
• Shark Bay
• Upper Gascoyne
• Yalgoo

If you are a primary producer who has been directly impacted by STC Narelle, you may be eligible for a subsidy of up to 50% to help cover the costs of transporting; fodder or water for livestock, or building or fencing equipment, as a direct result of the disaster.

You may also be eligible to receive an interest rate subsidy on new loans taken out for the purposes of repairing damaged assets or business carry on costs.

For details on eligibility and how to apply, contact the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.

A targeted support package is available for eligible tourism businesses; tour operators, experiences and attractions, and accommodation providers, impacted by Severe Tropical Cyclone Narelle in the Shire of Exmouth, Shire of Carnarvon including Coral Bay, Shire of Ashburton and the Shire of Upper Gascoyne.

Administered by Tourism WA, the Cyclone Narelle Tourism Business Support Package includes:

• One-off business survival funding support payments of up to $10,000 for businesses employing under four workers and up to $20,000 for businesses employing four or more staff; and
• A consumer incentive voucher program offering visitors 50 per cent off select tours and experiences and supporting marketing campaigns encouraging visitors to explore and support the Coral Coast region.

Exmouth residents and small businesses impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Narelle may be eligible for energy bill relief.

Eligible Horizon Power customers who experienced outages exceeding 12 hours will automatically receive a doubled Extended Outage Payment, increasing support from $120 to $240.

Horizon Power will also waive network connection and reconnection fees for customers whose properties were destroyed as well as fees for connection of temporary power supplies required during construction.

Relief measures are available for eligible services requested until 31 March 2027.

This emergency assistance is primarily administered by the WA Department of Communities to help support eligible individuals and families who need assistance to meet their immediate and essential needs as a direct result of the eligible disaster. It may include:

• emergency accommodation
• emergency food
• emergency clothing and
• replacement of essential household items and personal effects*
• essential housing repairs to return to safe and habitable condition*
• personal or financial support services

Note: * These assistance measures are subject to income and/or asset testing.

Financial assistance is available for local governments and state government agencies to support the reconstruction of essential public assets.

The Small Business Development Corporation (SBDC) offers free, confidential advice and guidance to small businesses on topics including:

• business continuity plans
• assistance with dealing with employees
• commercial leasing
• dispute resolution

The SBDC can also provide referrals to small business financial counselling and mental health support services.

If you are a small business proprietor whose assets or premises have been directlyimpacted by STC Narelle, you may be eligible to receive an interest rate subsidy on new loans taken out for the purposes of repairing damaged assets or business carry on costs.

For details on eligibility and how to apply, contact the DFES Recovery Funding team.