SW QLD | 6 Feb 2012
Premier Anna Bligh said due to the exceptional nature of this flood event in South West Queensland she has requested assistance to cover primary producers, small businesses and not-for profit organisations.
“I have written to the Prime Minister requesting the activation of Category C Special Assistance Flood Grants of up to $25,000 for small businesses, primary producers and not for profit organisations,” Ms Bligh said.
“I have requested that the regional council areas of Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo be activated for these assistance grants,” Ms Bligh said.
“Flooding has occurred at levels above historical records in river systems in these areas and there is significant damage to many small businesses and agriculture enterprises.
“These grants are designed to enable community recovery for those severely affected by disaster events.
“This targeted assistance will go a long way in helping these small businesses, primary producers and not for profit organisations repair essential infrastructure so they can get their businesses back up and running as soon as possible.”
Ms Bligh said the State Government had also extended joint State and Federal Government disaster relief and recovery arrangements to a further six local government areas across Queensland.
“A total of 20 Councils across the State are now covered under NDRRA, and can now access assistance to cover the cost of damaged public assets or counter disaster operations,” she said.
“The current statewide damage estimate stands at just above $55 million, but we know that when waters reside the bill will be considerably higher.”
Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the NDRRA Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme had also been extended to cover communities in the Balonne, Central Highlands, Maranoa and Murweh council areas.
“Recent rain and floods have taken their toll on our communities, so it’s vital that we offer affected residents all the help we can,” Mr Roberts said.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Regional Economies Tim Mulherin said Category B assistance of concessional loans up to $250,000 have been extended to small businesses, primary producers and not for profit organisations in affected areas.
“The regional council areas of Balonne, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Maranoa, Murweh and Paroo have now been activated for Category B assistance,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Freight subsidies of up to $5,000 will also be available for primary producers in the affected areas.
“We have been working closely with industry groups Agforce and QFF, to assess the extent of flooding damage for primary producers in these areas.
“The full extent of damage will not be known until the flooding recedes, but early indications of infrastructure damage and stock losses indicate the need for this assistance,” Mr Mulherin said.
Category C assistance of grants up to $25,000 are available from QRAA in two tiers:
- Tier 1 – grants of up to $5,000 to assist primary producers and small business with immediate early recovery (subject to future QRAA audit)
- Tier 2 – grants of up to $20,000 to recover costs that the primary producer or small business have paid in order to repair direct flood damage.
For further information on levels of assistance available please contact QRAA on Freecall 1800 623 946 or at www.qraa.qld.gov.au
The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) will continue to undertake impact assessment of flood damage and provide advice if there is a need for further additions to the Category B and C lists as this unprecedented natural disaster continues to unfold.
The following councils are now activated for NDRRA funding Balonne, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Burke, Carpentaria, Central Highlands, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Flinders, Issac, Longreach, McKinlay, Maranoa, Mount Isa, Murweh, Paroo, Quilpie, Richmond, and Winton Councils.
