The Lismore Carboot Market’s charity of the day this Sunday will be the Lismore Flood Appeal, which is aiming to raise $500,000 to help victims of the flood.
And the organisers of the appeal are hoping that northern rivers businesses, community groups, sporting clubs and performers will follow suit.
Appeal Steering Committee chair Cr Eddie Lloyd has encouraged anyone doing an event or gig in the next few weeks to consider making the Lismore Flood Appeal the beneficiary.
‘We plan to have a major fundraising event in late April but really this is about community supporting community and everyone getting involved,’ Cr Lloyd said.
‘It might be a mufti day at work or a fundraising morning tea, or a Lismore Flood Appeal tin on the counter at work. Big or small, we just need people to keep giving after the headlines are gone. Lots of people have lost everything in this flood and as a community we can rally together and help them rebuild their lives.’
Any individual or community group interested in raising funds for the Lismore Flood Appeal can access posters and other promotional material by emailing [email protected].
There are a number of ways people and organisations can contribute to the Lismore Flood Appeal.
WEBSITE – donate at www.gofundme.com/lismorefloodappeal
BANK DEPOSIT – deposit directly into the Lismore Flood Appeal account:
Lismore City Council Flood Appeal Account
BSB: 062-565
Account Number: 10864633
IN PERSON – over the counter at the Lismore City Council Chambers, 43 Oliver Avenue, Goonellabah.
Tax deductible
Meanwhile, Page MP Kevin Hogan has announced that donations to the flood appeal and other relief funds would be tax deductible.
‘The Government is moving quickly to allow qualifying new and existing funds established for the relief of people affected by the flood to receive tax deductible donations,’ Mr Hogan said.
‘Lismore City Council and organisers of other Flood Relief funds in the Lismore Government Area will have to apply for Deductable Gift Recipient endorsement from the Australian Taxation Office.
‘The ATO and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission are available to assist with this process. Funds will need to apply for formal endorsement via the ATO website.
‘Once approved, donations to Australian disaster relief funds, established to provide relief in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie, will be tax deductible for a period of two years from 28 March 2017, the date the cyclone made landfall in Queensland.
‘In order to further assist the communities that have been impacted by the cyclone, the Australian Taxation Office has also initiated fast tracking of tax refunds for people affected by extreme weather and flooding in NSW and Queensland.
‘Taxpayers and their Tax and BAS agents will also have additional time to lodge income tax returns and activity statements.
‘Automatic deferrals of one month are now in place for tax lodgement and payment dates (excluding large Pay As You Go withholders) for people within the postcode of 2480. The ATO’s website has a list of new lodgement dates for affected regions.
‘Individuals who have a business or reside within a region that is not listed but have been impacted by the disaster, can call the ATO on 1800 806 218 for assistance.’
Mr Hogan said further information on establishing an Australian disaster relief fund was available at www.ato.gov.au
