New flood assistance measures have been activated for councils, residents, businesses, community organisations in local government areas from Western Downs to Douglas Shire.
Impacted residents in North Burnett, as well as more areas of Bundaberg and Western Downs, can now access Personal Hardship Assistance payments of $180 for individuals, up to $900 for a family of five or more, for emergency essentials.
An extension of time for Emergency and Essential Services Hardship Assistance has also been given to eligible residents in Banana, Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Carpentaria, Doomadgee, Douglas, Flinders, Gladstone, North Burnett and Western Downs affected by repeat flood events over the past months. Applications are now open till 27 April.
For primary producers in Charters Towers, Douglas, Longreach and Western Downs, disaster loans up to $2 million and freight subsidies up to $5,000 are available, while North Burnett not-for-profits can now access loans up to $100,000.
Additionally, the council of Maranoa can now recoup the costs of their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets like roads and bridges.
All assistance measures are funded through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in response to ongoing severe weather this year.
Queensland Minister for Primary Industries, Tony Perrett said the expansion of local government areas that are now eligible for primary producer disaster loans will provide relief for those farmers who have been impacted by the latest flooding.
“Farmers in the Charters Towers, Douglas, Longreach and Western Downs council areas now have access to disaster loans and freight subsidies to assist as they turn their focus to getting back on their feet and recovering,” Minister Perrett said.
“The impact to primary producers this season has been significant, the challenges they are facing great but they can have confidence the government is backing them to get back to the vital work of producing world class food, fibre and foliage.”
Queenslanders can check the activated areas for Personal Hardship Assistance and apply via www.disaster.qld.gov.au or by calling the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
