The local governments of Banana, Gladstone, Hope Vale, Napranum, Torres, and Wujal Wujal Councils can now access funds for response and recovery activities including debris clean-up and road repairs amid ongoing flooding from the North Queensland Monsoon Trough and ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji.
Personal Hardship Assistance from the Australian and Queensland Governments is now available to eligible residents in targeted localities in the Livingstone and Mackay LGAs.
This includes payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more for emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine, and other assistance targeting low income, uninsured residents.
Flood-affected residents in areas previously activated for personal hardship assistance also now have more time to apply for these payments.
Additionally, impacted primary producers in Burdekin, Isaac, Mackay, and Whitsunday may apply for disaster loans up to $250,000 and freight subsidies up to $5,000.
Farmers can get more information on disaster loans via www.qrida.qld.gov.au and freight subsidies at www.dpi.qld.gov.au.
All assistance is being provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
There are now 45 local government areas (LGAs) receiving DRFA assistance following significant flooding that has affected large parts of the state’s north since Christmas.
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins said the assistance would support primary producers to get back on their feet faster.
“The flooding in North Queensland had a terrible impact on farmers and primary producers, who are not only critical to regional economies, but to our food security, which is why making this support available is so important,” said Ms Collins.
“We’ll always back our farmers and primary producers, with this support to help those impacted in North Queensland to clean up, sustain livestock, and mitigate the impacts of flooding and loss of pasture.”
Queensland Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said it had been an absolutely devastating start to the year for so many Queensland primary producers.
“I’ve been on the ground in affected communities and I’ve seen the catastrophic impacts our producers are experiencing with my own eyes and listened to their experiences firsthand,” he said.
“As waters begin to finally recede, we will have a clearer picture of what we are dealing with.
“The Crisafulli Government will continue to work with the Commonwealth to ensure primary producers and local communities have everything they need to begin the long road to recovery.”
Applications for personal hardship assistance can be made at www.disaster.qld.gov.au or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
