Joint media release with the Hon Ann Leahy MP
- Seventeen more councils now eligible for disaster support in response to northern floods.
- Grants, loans and freight subsidies also available to primary producers, and grants to rural landholders, in Charters Towers and Flinders LGAs.
- Assistance provided through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments are extending assistance to support seventeen more councils as well as primary producers and rural landholders in Charters Towers and Flinders, after flooding across the north and northwest of the state.
Support activated includes:
- Funding to support emergency repairs and the long-term rebuild of damaged roads in Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Diamantina, Flinders, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Longreach, McKinlay, Northern Peninsula Area, Pormpuraaw, Richmond, Winton, and Wujal Wujal
- Recovery grants, concessional loans and freight subsidies for primary producers operating out of the Charters Towers and Flinders LGAs to help with clean-up, equipment repairs, replacement of stock, loss of income, and the continuity of operations. Grants to support eligible rural landholders or lessees of at least 10 hectares in the Charters Towers and Flinders LGAs, who have sustained direct damage from the floods but are not eligible for primary producer assistance.
All support is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the recent flooding has had a profound impact on a growing number of councils, primary producers and landholders across North, Far North and Western Queensland.
"As we understand the full extent of damage from this flooding event, we are moving quickly to activate appropriate support for these communities.
"Today's assistance for more councils and landholders will help impacted communities clean up as quickly as possible and begin recovering.
"Recovery can take time and our government is here for the long haul. The Albanese Government will continue working hand in glove with the Crisafulli Government to support impacted communities in Queensland."
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said the assistance would help flood weary Queenslanders pick themselves up, dry themselves off, and get back on their feet.
"As the scale of this flooding event continues to widen, our resolve to help hard hit Queenslanders only deepens," Minister Leahy said.
"Councils in impacted areas are stretched as they tackle the challenge of serving their communities under very difficult circumstances, and primary producers and landholders are also feeling the full effects.
"To help us best understand the extent of flood damage from this disaster, I urge all primary producers to complete a disaster impact survey via the Department of Primary Industries.
"Wherever disaster assistance is needed, the Australian and Queensland Governments and working hard to get funding out the door fast."
More information
Thirty councils are now activated for DRFA assistance in response to the North and Far North Tropical Low weather event: Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Burdekin, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Cook, Croydon, Diamantina, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Kowanyama, Longreach, McKinlay, Northern Peninsula Area, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Richmond, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday, Winton, Wujal Wujal, and Yarrabah.
Disaster Recovery Grants up to $25,000, Disaster Assistance Loans up to $250,000 and Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000 will allow primary producers to re-establish and maintain operations, while freight subsidies up to $5,000 can be applied for to move stock and supplies.
Eligible rural landholders can apply for grants up to $10,000 for their clean-up efforts and the reinstatement of any primary production conducted on their property.
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.
Applications for freight subsidies can be made via Queensland's Department of Primary Industries on 13 25 23 or at Department of Primary Industries.
