Loans to support new plantation development and the replanting of bushfire-damaged plantations.
To encourage farmers to develop new farm forestry plantations or the replanting of bushfire-damaged plantations as a result of the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.
Use this loan to:
Purchase land for developing a plantation.
Prepare a site for establishing a plantation including clearing and removal of vegetation.
Contribute to the cost of re-establishing a bushfire-damaged plantation including site preparation, purchasing and planting of seedlings.
Pay for infrastructure, working capital and insurance costs for plantation purposes.
At least 50% of your total debt must stay with a commercial lender.
We will determine the repayment amounts and frequency offered to successful applicants and this will be detailed in the loan agreement.
Interest-only repayments for the years 1-13 and principal and interest repayments for years 14-20.
Principal repayments will be calculated based on a longer-term loan so only a proportion will be repaid during the term.
At the end of the loan term the business must repay or refinance any remaining loan through commercial finance.
Full terms and conditions are available in the loan guidelines.
*Interest rate valid from February 2023 to July 2023.
You may also be eligible to register your plantation activities as a project under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF). This is a separate scheme administered by the Clean Energy Regulator.
You do not need to register under the ERF in order to qualify for a Plantation Loan.
But if you wish to apply to register under the ERF, you may wish to do so before applying for a Plantation Loan in order to meet the ERF eligibility requirements.
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and our team will contact you to discuss your individual circumstances.
We are here to help
When you are ready to apply, complete the appropriate application form for farmers or commercial growers.
You may need to contact your trusted financial advisor to help you complete your application.
Follow the Plantation Loan Document Checklist on page 1 of the application form.
We can’t start assessing your application until we get all the information we ask for, including attachments.
If you have any questions, call us on 1800 875 675.
Submit your application to us at applications@ric.gov.au or send to:
Regional Investment Corporation, PO Box 653, Orange, NSW, 2800.
Plantation Loan Farmers Application Form
Complete this form on your computer or print and fill it in by hand.
Right click on the link above and select 'save target as' or 'save link as' to download the form.
Open the form using Acrobat Reader. Download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.
Save the application form regularly as you are filling it in.
The form will not work when opened in a web browser or other software, e.g. Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, Preview.
Follow the Plantation Loan Document Checklist on page 1 of the application form.
We can’t start assessing your application until we get all the information we ask for, including attachments.
If you have any questions, call us on 1800 875 675.
Submit your application to us at applications@ric.gov.au or send to:
Regional Investment Corporation, PO Box 653, Orange, NSW, 2800.
Plantation Loan Commercial Growers Application Form
Complete this form on your computer or print and fill it in by hand.
Right click on the link above and select 'save target as' or 'save link as' to download the form.
Open the form using Acrobat Reader. Download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.
Save the application form regularly as you are filling it in.
The form will not work when opened in a web browser or other software, e.g. Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, Preview.
We will assess your application against the criteria in the loan.
Read the detail on who can apply for a loan and what happens after you apply.
Complete these forms on your computer or print and fill it in by hand.
Right click on the link and select 'save target as' or 'save link as' to download the form.
Open the form using Acrobat Reader. Download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.
Save the application form regularly as you are filling it in.
The form will not work when opened in a web browser or other software, e.g. Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, Preview.
Applicants must provide a Plantation Management Plan (PMP) endorsed by a suitably qualified forestry professional.
You may need to make a statutory declaration to support your application.
We will assess your application against the criteria in the loan.
Read the detail on who can apply for a loan and what happens after you apply.
Complete these forms on your computer or print and fill it in by hand.
Right click on the link and select 'save target as' or 'save link as' to download the form.
Open the form using Acrobat Reader. Download a free version of Adobe Acrobat Reader DC software.
Save the application form regularly as you are filling it in.
The form will not work when opened in a web browser or other software, e.g. Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Safari, Preview.
Applicants must provide a Plantation Management Plan (PMP) endorsed by a suitably qualified forestry professional.
You may need to make a statutory declaration to support your application.
The Plantation Loan encourages new plantation developments and the replanting of bushfire-damaged plantations as a result of the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.
There are two kinds of Plantation Loans; farmers can apply to develop new plantation projects and commercial growers can develop new plantations.
Both farmers and commercial growers can use the loan to replant bushfire-damaged plantations.
The Plantation Loan is available for establishing a plantation (including purchasing land for a plantation) or re-establishing a plantation damaged by the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires.
Eligible activity examples are listed in the loan guidelines.
The insurance requirement is to support an applicant’s capacity to repay the loan in the event of a natural disaster.
It also supports the RIC’s security position in the event of a default.
The Plantation Loan can be used to cover associated insurance costs.
We recommend speaking to an insurance professional or broker for advice on natural disaster insurance products.
The Plantation Management Plan (PMP) will outline the proposed plantation management procedures, operational activities and compliance with relevant legislation.
The PMP will support the plantation's development over the 20-year term of the loan and will ensure the right trees are planted in the right places at the right scale.
The PMP needs to be endorsed by a suitably qualified forestry professional.
All applicants must include a bio on the suitably qualified forestry professional endorsing their plan.
The bio should outline qualifications, memberships and years of forestry experience.
A professional could be a local forester, forest engineer or technically trained specialist.
Principal repayments will be calculated based on a longer-term loan, meaning only a proportion of the principal will be repaid during the life of the loan.
At the end of the loan term, the business must repay or refinance any remaining loan through a commercial lender.
You may be eligible to register your plantation activities as a project under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
This is a separate scheme administered by the Clean Energy Regulator.
Contact the Clean Energy Regulator on 1300 553 542 or visit the Clean Energy Regulator website.
No you do not need to register under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) to be eligible for a Plantation Loan.
But if you do wish to apply to register under the ERF, you may wish to do so before applying for a Plantation Loan to meet the ERF eligibility requirements.
The suitability of the tree type for the plantation location is required to be outlined in the Plantation Management Plan.
Either hard or soft wood trees could be proposed if they are suitable to grow in the proposed location.
If you have questions about your loan:
Call us on 1800 875 675
Email us through our online contact form
