Recovery Package for Regional NSW Announced

Monday 25th of October 2021

The NSW Government has announced a $200 million recovery package for regional NSW, and a $530M tourism recovery package to aid in the recovery of the economy.

The recovery pacakge for regional NSW will create new jobs and support events, shows and festivals to boost tourism. The package includes:

$20M Regional Events Acceleration Fund Round Two
$5M Country shows support package
$25M Reconnecting Regional NSW: Community Events Package
$40M for priority regional infrastructure projects
$80M of initatives yet to be announced

“This package will deliver long term support and certainty for businesses as the state reopens, tourism rebounds and investors eye new opportunities in the bush,” said Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole. ”The package includes $25 million to help regional councils stage events such as festivals that help drive tourism and allow locals to reconnect.”

“Immediate financial support will also be provided for country shows to be held in 2021-2022. Country shows have been disrupted by drought, bushfire, floods and COVID-19 and the $5 million we are announcing today will help agricultural show societies come back bigger and better than ever, in the lead up to the 2022 Royal Easter Show.”

The funding includes a second round of the successful Regional Job Creation Fund and the Regional Events Acceleration Fund in early 2022. Successful projects from the first rounds are expected to be announced in the coming weeks, which will help businesses create jobs and encourage visitation to regional areas.

The tourism and events recovery package includes:

$250 million for the expanded Stay & Rediscover scheme providing a $50 voucher to all NSW adults to redeem at accommodation premises across NSW.
$150 million to support the recovery of major event activity across the state including $50 million for a Regional Events Package to support major events, festivals, agricultural shows and community events across the regions.
$60 million for an Aviation Attraction Fund to incentivise international airlines to re-commence flights to Sydney.
$6 million to bring business events back to the city.
$50 million for the CBDs Revitalisation Program to support events and activations in CBDs across Greater Sydney and surrounds.
An Event Saver Fund to provide immediate support to organisers if events are cancelled or disrupted by any public health orders during the 2021-22 summer.
$25 million for the Festival Relaunch package – to stabilise established commercial and not-for-profit festivals, big and small, so they can program with confidence into 2022/23.
$10 million for a Recovery Marketing Campaign including an extension of the successful roadtrips campaign launched in 2020