The Palaszczuk Government has today announced a renewed regional Household Resilience Program as part of its Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs stimulus package.
Premer Annastacia Palaszczuk said the highly successful program was being renewed after the programs proven results to support local jobs and save on household insurance premiums.
"Master Builders recommended extending our highly successful Household Resilience Program, which provides grants to support people in cyclone affected areas to improve the resilience of their homes," the Premier said.
"This is the type of investment that provides long-term benefits while supporting construction jobs over the short-term.
"That's why today I can confirm we are extending this program with another $11.25 million, and I welcome the Federal Government's commitment to provide $10 million of funding."
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said 1,749 Queensland households from Bundaberg to the Cape had already seen their insurance premiums reduced by an average of $310.
"We know that COVID-19 has hit budgets hard, the last thing we need right now is a cyclone to hit regional families when they're down," he said.
"This will make a big difference for homeowners on low incomes, while stimulating the local jobs economy.
"To date, 99 per cent of these cyclone-proofing upgrades have been done by local businesses.
"Local companies like Elite Roofing from Bundaberg, Roof Seal FNQ in Townsville and Tropical Roofing and Drainage Solutions from Cairns are just a few of the 451 Queensland businesses who have benefited from these household renovations.
"The Household Resilience Program has already stimulated $67.7 million expenditure across Queensland, and I look forward to these benefits continuing to flow with this latest update."
Minister de Brenni said renewing the highly successful Household Resilience Program was about jobs in regional Queensland.
"The Household Resilience Program backs Queensland tradies, and its these local tradies who are best placed to tie down old-fashioned rooves, replace weak doors and seal leaky windows in the communities where they live," he said.
"This first stage stimulus boost will help Queenslanders like Mary, who's retired and lives on her own in an old Townsville queenslander.
"Mary is like 90 percent of Household Resilience Program recipients who would not have carried out these upgrades without this Palaszczuk Government grant.
"Not only did Mary get her windows and doors protected for next cyclone season, she saved $330 on her insurance.
