Mid Canterbury farmers and landowners affected by May’s one in 200-year rainfall event are being encouraged to apply for support from a $4 million flood relief fund.

Applications opened last week for the expanded Canterbury Flood Recovery Fund, which was set up to support the whole Canterbury region and is aimed at getting people back on their feet as quickly as possible.

Farmers have been cleaning up after the event and some face significant costs not covered by insurance.

Farmers can submit an application to the new $4 million fund if they require extra support. Grants from the fund will assist farmers to clear flood debris, enabling pasture, and fodder crops to be resown.

Applications can be made retrospectively for clean-up work already undertaken. The size and allocation of grants will be determined once all the applications have been received.

Grant applications will be assessed by an independent panel, made up of people with a strong understanding of farming businesses, and rural communities in Canterbury.

They will confirm that grants meet the eligibility criteria and that the allocation process is fair, consistent, and transparent.

MPI will contribute up to half of the clean-up cost for uninsurable works.

Applications for the fund close on 30 July 2021.

Full details at:

Canterbury Flood Fund