Frequently asked questions

The objective of this program is to provide financial support to eligible small businesses impacted by the closure of the Great Western Highway.

Grants are up to $10,000 or $25,000, depending on the 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.

The grant is available to eligible small businesses within NSW postcodes 2785, 2786 and 2790, and select locations in postcodes 2787, 2845 and 2847.

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.

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

• your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for the period April to June 2025
• evidence of lodgement of the 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 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 details.

No, you do not need to submit a new application.

If your existing application is approved and your business is located in an area eligible for the $25,000 grant, we will automatically update your grant amount in our system.

You will receive an initial payment of $5,000 within 10 business days. To access the remaining funds up to $20,000, you will need to complete your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for the April–June 2026 period and submit a claim through the RAA Portal.

This program has limited funding and will close to applications at 4pm (AEDT) on Friday 22 January 2027, or earlier if all available funds are exhausted. You are encouraged to apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

You will be notified in writing if your application is approved. Your initial payment will then be made to the bank account provided in your application within 10 business days of the approval notification.

Once your application has been approved, we will advise you of the process to submit a claim for the remaining funds. As part of this, you will need to upload a copy of your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for the period April to June 2026, as well as evidence of lodgement with the ATO.

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.

To assess eligibility, the RAA will compare your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for the period from April to June 2025 against your BAS for April to June 2026.

If your BAS does not demonstrate a revenue decline of at least 40% between these periods, you will not be eligible for funds beyond the initial payment.

No. You must submit your Business Activity Statement (BAS) for April to June 2026 through a separate online process.

If you include this BAS in your initial application, you will still be required to upload it again when completing your claim for the remaining funds.

Applications are assessed in the order they are received; however, only complete applications will enter the assessment queue. An application is considered complete once all required information and supporting documents have been provided to the RAA.

If your application is incomplete, it will not be assessed until the missing information is submitted. The RAA may also contact you to request additional information to ensure your application is complete.

Submitting an application does not guarantee that funding will be available.

The program has limited funding. Applications are assessed in the order of receipt to ensure equity and fairness.

Once the full allocation has been committed, applications will close.

To stay informed about future funding opportunities for small business operators, you can register your details to join the RAA mailing list. We will contact you if any relevant programs become available.

No. There is one grant available per eligible ABN.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority in collaboration with Transport for NSW and the Small Business Commissioner have undertaken community and stakeholder consultation in and around the Blue Mountains and Lithgow region to determine the impacts of the highway closure.

The RAA has been advised of the towns and localities eligible for the grant program.

The RAA has a strong commitment to fraud prevention, detection, and response. Making a fraudulent claim, including providing false or misleading information, is a criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment, or a fine of $22,000, or both.

The RAA will also attempt to recover any assistance received as a result of fraud.

More information can be found on our Fraud and Corruption Prevention webpage.