New assistance package over Vic mine fire

Small businesses, farmers and non-profit agencies in the Victorian township of Morwell where a coal mine is ablaze can apply for new $100,000 concessional loans.

The loans will be available for eligible organisations if their income is affected by the fire, under a jointly-funded commonwealth and state package.

They can be used to fund essential working capital, including salaries and wages, paying creditors and rent and for essential supplies.

The loans will be available under the jointly-funded Commonwealth and State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, a new assistance initiative that was a federal coalition election commitment.

The new assistance complements existing concessional interest rate loans already available to small businesses that were physically damaged from the fire.

Affected organisations can contact the Rural Finance Corporation to test eligibility.