A NSW Government website

Rural Assistance Authority

Applications now open

Grant increased to $25,000 and $10,000 grant announced for more regional locations

Great Western Highway Closure Small Business Support Grant


The NSW Government is delivering a $21.2 million support package to help small businesses impacted by the closure of the Great Western Highway at Victoria Pass from 8 March 2026.

To help sustain operations and mitigate impacts, grants of up to $25,000 are now available to eligible small businesses in Hartley, Hartley Vale, Little Hartley and Mount Victoria.

Grants of up to $10,000 are also now available to eligible small businesses in all other regional towns and localities within NSW postcodes 2785, 2786 and 2790, as well as Oberon and Duckmaloi in postcode 2787, Wallerawang in postcode 2845 and Portland in postcode 2847.

Applications are now open.

Program funding is limited, and early applications are encouraged. Applications will close on Friday 22 January 2027 at 4pm (AEDT), or earlier if all available funds are exhausted.

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for details.

Program Guidelines




Applications must be submitted through the RAA Portal

Log In or Register an RAA Account to get started.

For step-by-step guides and resources, visit our dedicated support page.

Go to the RAA Portal


Assistance available

Eligible small businesses may receive a grant of up to $10,000 or $25,000, depending on their primary business location.

Approved applicants will receive an initial payment of $5,000. The remaining balance will be released following the submission and verification of the required documentation demonstrating at least a 40% decline in revenue attributable to the closure of the Great Western Highway.

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for further details.

Program Guidelines

Eligible locations

The grant is available to eligible small businesses located within the NSW postcodes 2785, 2786, 2787 and 2790.

$25,000 Grant

Small businesses located in the following towns and localities may be eligible:

Hartley (2790)
Hartley Vale (2790)
Little Hartley (2790)
Mount Victoria (2786)

$10,000 Grant

Small businesses located in the following towns and localities may be eligible:

Bell (2786)Marrangaroo (2790)
Ben Bullen (2790)McKellars Park (2790)
Blackheath (2785)Megalong Valley (2785)
Blackmans Flat (2790)Morts Estate (2790)
Bowenfels (2790)Mount Irvine (2786)
Clarence (2790)Mount Lambie (2790)
Cobar Park (2790)Mount Wilson (2786)
Corney Town (2790)Newnes (2790)
Cullen Bullen (2790)Newnes Plateau (2790)
Dargan (2786)Oakey Park (2790)
Doctors Gap (2790)Oberon (2787)
Duckmaloi (2787)Portland (2847)
Ganbenang (2790)Pottery Estate (2790)
Good Forest (2790)Rydal (2790)
Hampton (2790)Sheedys Gully (2790)
Hassans Walls (2790)Sodwalls (2790)
Hermitage Flat (2790)South Bowenfels (2790)
Jenolan (2790)South Littleton (2790)
Kanimbla (2790)State Mine Gully (2790)
Lidsdale (2790)Vale of Clwydd (2790)
Lithgow (2790)Wallerawang (2845)
Littleton (2790)Wolgan Valley (2790)
Lowther (2790)Wollangambe (2790)

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed eligibility criteria.

Program Guidelines

Eligible small businesses

To be eligible for an initial payment of $5,000, the business must:

  • be physically located in an eligible area
  • be registered for GST and hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • employ fewer than 20 full-time staff
  • have an aggregated annual turnover of no more than $10 million for the financial year
  • demonstrate an intention to continue operating within the same area.

To be eligible for the full grant available, applicants must:

  • demonstrate a decline in revenue of 40% or more due to the closure of the Great Western Highway.

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for detailed eligibility criteria.

Program Guidelines

What you will need to apply

All applications must be submitted through the RAA’s online portal.

If you don’t already have an RAA Account, you will need to create one before you can access the portal. You can find step‑by‑step instructions for setting up an account on the RAA Portal page.

Register an RAA Account


When you submit your application, you will need to upload:

  • your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for the period April to June 2025
  • evidence of lodgement of your BAS with the Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
  • evidence of the business’s physical address
  • evidence of bank account details to use for approved grant payments.

Note: When submitting a claim for the remaining available funds, you will be required to upload your BAS for the period April to June 2026, as well as evidence of lodgement with the ATO.

Please refer to the Program Guidelines for further details.

Program Guidelines

Apply now

Before you start your application

Please ensure you have read and understood the Program Guidelines. The version of the guidelines that applies to you is the one published on the date you submit your application. For your records, we recommend that you download and save, or print, a copy of the Program Guidelines.

Program Guidelines

The online application form is designed to make the process as straightforward as possible. To ensure a smooth application submission, we recommend:

  • having all required documents scanned and ready to upload
  • using Google Chrome on a computer or laptop.

How to apply

All applications must be submitted through the RAA’s online portal.

If you don’t already have an RAA Account, you will need to create one before you can access the portal. You can find step‑by‑step instructions for setting up an account on the RAA Portal page.


Start your application


When you’re ready, log in to the RAA Portal to start your application:

Log In to apply

Claim payment

Once your application has been approved, you will be paid $5,000 up-front.

To access the remaining available funds, you will need to submit a Claim with a copy of your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for the period April to June 2026.

The RAA will compare your BAS for April to June 2025 against April to June 2026.

If a decline of 40% or more is evident, you will be paid the grant in full.

Claims must be submitted through the RAA Portal by 4pm (AEDT) on Friday 22 January 2027.


Before you start your claim


To ensure a smooth submission process, we recommend:

  • having your BAS for April to June 2026 and evidence of lodgement with the ATO scanned and ready to upload
  • using Google Chrome on a computer or laptop.

How to submit your claim

All claims must be submitted through the RAA Portal.

If you don’t already have an RAA Account, you will need to create one before you can access the portal. You can find step‑by‑step instructions for setting up an account on the RAA Portal page.

To submit your claim:

  1. Log In to the RAA Portal.
  2. Go to the Claims tab.
  3. Select Make a Claim.
  4. Have the following ready:
    • your RAA BP Number or your application Contract Number
    • your BAS for the period April to June 2026 and evidence of lodgement with the ATO.

Start your claim

When you’re ready, log in to the RAA Portal to start your claim:

Log In to claim

Frequently asked questions

Additional information about the Great Western Highway Closure Small Business Support Grant can be found on our Frequently asked questions webpage.

Frequently asked questions

Need help?

If you have any questions about this program, you can contact our team:

Phone: 1800 678 593
Email: rural.assist@raa.nsw.gov.au

If you need help interpreting the program guidelines or completing the application form, you may wish to seek assistance from a financial counsellor, business advisor, accountant or a trusted family member or friend.

Language service

If you need assistance with interpreting or translating, please contact Multicultural NSW:

Phone: 1300 651 500
Email: languageservices@multicultural.nsw.gov.au


Receive email updates

If you would like to receive email updates from the RAA, please register your details to join our mailing list.

Join the RAA mailing list

Hartley Valley