Canberra
Flood-affected primary producers in more of the hardest hit regions of Queensland can now apply for clean-up and recovery grants.
The grants of up to $25,000 are available to help with the economic impacts of these devastating floods.
Primary producers in targeted areas within the local government areas of Central Highlands, Gold Coast, Logan, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, and Western Downs are now able to apply for this assistance under the jointly funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
The eligible activation area for grants in Goondiwindi and Toowoomba has also been extended to ensure similarly affected primary producers can also access assistance.
These grants are already available in the local government areas of Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gympie, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett, Scenic Rim and South Burnett in addition to targeted areas within Banana, Goondiwindi, Ipswich, Somerset, Southern Downs and Toowoomba.
The grants assist with the cost of cleaning up and removing debris, replacing damaged equipment and stock, and help ensure business isn't disrupted beyond the next season. This assistance does not compensate for income losses and is not intended to replace insurance.
In addition, concessional loans and grants of up to $650,000 have been extended to these local government areas in recognition of the impact of primary producers in South East Queensland.
The exceptional loan and grant package is now available to eligible primary producers and businesses the LGAs of Banana, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
The Disaster Income Recovery Subsidy (DIRS) is also being made available to individuals in the Central Highlands, Gold Coast, Logan, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast and Western Downs local government areas. This assistance provides payments to employees, small business people and farmers who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income.
The assistance will ensure that people are able to stay in these areas and will support the longer-term recovery of the devastated local and regional economies.
The subsidies are already being provided to individuals in Banana, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs and Toowoomba local government areas.
This assistance is over and above the support already being provided under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements which are jointly funded by the Australian Government and the states.
In Queensland:
Personal Hardship and Distress assistance is available in the 23 local government areas of: Banana, Brisbane City, Bundaberg, Cherbourg, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
Concessional Interest Rate Loans and Freight Subsidies for Primary Producers are available in the 22 local government areas of: Banana, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
Concessional Interest Rate Loans for Small Business are available in the 23 local government areas of: Banana, Brisbane City, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
Clean-up and recovery grants of up to $25,000 are available for affected primary producers in, or in parts of, the following 20 local government areas of: Banana, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
Clean-up and recovery grants of up to $25,000 are available for affected small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in, or in parts of, the following 7 local government areas of: Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett and targeted areas within Gladstone and Southern Downs.
Restoration of Essential Public Assets assistance to councils and State government agencies is available in the 52 local government areas of: Aurukun, Banana, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Burke , Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Central Highlands, Cherbourg, Cloncurry, Cook, Doomadgee, Etheridge, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Ipswich, Isaac, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Mackay, Mapoon, McKinlay, Mornington, Moreton Bay, Napranum, North Burnett, North Peninsula, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs, South Burnett, Sunshine Coast, Tablelands, Toowoomba, Torres Strait Island, Western Downs, Whitsunday, Woorabinda, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.
Counter Disaster Operations assistance to councils and State government agencies is available in the 45 local government areas of: Aurukun, Banana, Brisbane City, Bundaberg, Burdekin, Burke, Cairns, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Central Highlands, Cherbourg, Cook, Etheridge, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goodiwindi, Gympie, Hinchinbrook, Ipswich, Isaac, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Mackay, Mapoon, Moreton Bay, Napranum, North Burnett, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Redland, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, Tablelands, Toowoomba, Torres Shire, Torres Strait Island, Western Downs and Whitsunday.
More information about the assistance that available in each affected local government area can be found at www.disasterassist.gov.au
More information about how to apply for the clean-up and recovery grants is available at www.qraa.qld.gov.au
The easiest way to lodge a claim for the DIRS is online at www.humanservices.gov.au or by calling the Australian Government Information Line on 180 22 66 from 8am to 8pm local time, seven days a week. Completed claim forms can also be lodged in person at a Department of Human Services service centre.