Joint media release with the Hon Ann Leahy MP
- More than $50 million in new extraordinary disaster assistance to guide long-term flood recovery.
- Targeted packages will fund repairs to sport and recreation facilities and community assets.
- Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants for primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits increased.
- Disaster assistance extended to Gulf and Cape councils for North and Far North Queensland flood response and recovery efforts.
Extraordinary disaster recovery packages worth more than $50 million are now available support North Queensland's full recovery from last month's devastating floods.
Funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), this latest tranche of extraordinary disaster assistance includes:
- $30 million Sport and Recreational Community Facilities Recovery Program to rebuild and carry out repairs on flood impacted sport and rec facilities
- $20 million Community and Recreational Assets Recovery Program a grants-based program to repair and rebuild affected community facilities.
Previously announced $25,000 Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants will also increase to $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits.
The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments are also extending disaster assistance to Aurukun, Burke, Doomadgee, Mareeba, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum and Torres Councils following February's flood event across northern Queensland.
This DRFA support will fund councils' response, clean-up and recovery, including emergency repairs and long-term reconstruction of the road network.
This support takes the total number of councils receiving DRFA assistance in response to the North and Far North Tropical Low weather event to 38.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister
"Today's announcement will help restore community and recreational infrastructure. We want to help get communities back on their feet and this is an important step.
"North and Far North Queensland farmers are so important to the region and local economy. Today we are tripling the grant available to primary producers to help get recovery started.
"I want to thank local leaders and industry for their work as the impact has been assessed. These increase will mean more funding for stock feed, repair works and debris removal."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy
"An uplift to recovery grants would be welcome news for primary producers, small business and not-for-profits.
"The Crisafulli Government has been working arm in arm with operators and industry bodies and we've now moved to increase Disaster Recovery Grants across eligible north Queensland LGAs," Minister Leahy said.
"This includes boosting grants for primary producers to $75,000, and for small business and not-for-profits to $50,000 to get them back on their feet and local economies moving again."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last
"Queensland agencies are on the ground listening and delivering. The TV cameras might have gone down south, but we're with North Queensland for the long run.
"The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority is well prepared for this significant uplift, with staff in North Queensland ready to assist eligible producers, small businesses and not-for-profits."
More information
- To date, 38 councils have been activated for DRFA assistance in response to the North and Far North Tropical Low weather event: Aurukun, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Diamantina, Doomadgee, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Longreach, Mareeba, McKinlay, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Richmond, Tablelands, Torres, Townsville, Whitsunday, Winton, Wujal Wujal, and Yarrabah.
- For primary producer grants and loans, and rural landholder grants, visit the QRIDA website, Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority or call 1800 623 946.
- For more information about this extraordinary disaster assistance in support of north and far north Queensland flood recovery please visit Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
