- Flood impacted residents in targeted areas of Charters Towers and more parts of Cassowary Coast can apply for Personal Hardship Assistance.
- Includes Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants of $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more.
- Range of support available for things like purchasing emergency essentials, replacing damaged whitegoods, and for the loss of essential services.
Personal hardship payments have been extended to eligible residents in targeted areas of Charters Towers, and more parts of Cassowary Coast, following devastating flooding experienced over the past week.
Support measures include grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the costs of emergency essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
Other assistance available to eligible individuals can help replace damaged household contents such as whitegoods and linen, reconnect essential services, and repair damaged property.
The Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme is funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DFRA).
New activated areas include:
Charters Towers: Alabama Hill, Basalt, Black Jack, Breddan, Broughton, Charters Towers City, Columbia, Dotswood, Grand Secret, Greenvale, Hervey Range, Millchester, Mingela, Mosman Park, Paluma, Queenton, Ravenswood, Reid River, Richmond Hill, Southern Cross, Toll, Towers Hill, Valley of Lagoons.
Cassowary Coast: Bilyana, Bingil Bay, Birkalla, Bulgun, remainder of Cardwell, Carmoo, Carruchan, Dingo Pocket, Djarawong, Djiru, Dunk, East Feluga, El Arish, Euramo, Feluga, Friday Pocket, Garners Beach, Granadilla, Gulngai, Hull Heads, Jarra Creek, Lower Tully, Lumholtz, Maadi, Maria Creeks, Merryburn, Midgenoo, Midgeree Bar, Mission Beach, Mount Mackay, Munro Plains, Murray Upper, Murrigal, Rockingham, Shell Pocket, Silky Oak, South Mission Beach, Tam O'Shanter, Tully, Tully Heads, Walter Hill, Warrami, Wongaling Beach.
Cook and Douglas Councils are also now eligible for DRFA assistance to fund their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets in response to the North and Far North Tropical Low disaster event.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said extending financial support to more north Queenslanders will provide an immediate helping hand.
"This Personal Hardship Assistance for targeted areas of Charters Towers and Cassowary Coast offers impacted residents quick relief in response to these record rainfalls," Minister McAllister said.
"It's in addition to the Cassowary Coast areas of Cardwell, Damper Creek, Ellerbeck and Kennedy already announced, as well as targeted localities in Townsville, Burdekin and Gordonvale, and the LGAs of Hinchinbrook and Palm Island.
"The threat of this severe weather system remains with us, and while it does we'll keep activating the support Queenslanders require."
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said all levels of government were working tirelessly to help communities.
"The safety of our people and getting support where it needs to go fast. That's our shared focus right now," Minister Leahy said.
"I acknowledge the great work of impacted councils, our state agencies, the federal government, and non-government services in response to this disaster, and of course every Queenslander digging in to help family, friends and strangers alike.
"Efficient and effective response and recovery is only possible when we're all pushing forward together, and the united spirit of our state is on full display."
Eligible residents can apply for Personal Hardship Assistance by visiting www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or phoning 1800 173 349.
Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme
- Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.
- Essential Household Contents Grants – up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.
- Structural Assistance Grants – up to $80,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.
Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme
- Income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.
