Personal Hardship Assistance is being extended to residents in the local government areas of Flinders and Richmond as communities continue to deal with the impacts of recent monsoon flooding.
Support includes grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more for essential items such as food, clothing and medicine, as well as assistance for residents who have been without essential services for more than five days.
Three income-tested support measures targeted at uninsured residents are also available, including Structural Assistance Grants of up to $80,000 to return a home to a safe and habitable condition.
Cook, Douglas and Hinchinbrook shire councils are also being activated for disaster funding to support counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets, while Townsville City Council will be able to recoup costs for repairs to its road network.
In response to the North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 18 local government areas are currently receiving financial support from the Federal Government and the Queensland Government under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said assistance would continue to be activated where required, and that the recovery effort would extend well beyond the immediate emergency phase.
“We’re facing a significant recovery operation that will be measured in months and years rather than days and weeks,” McBain said.
“As floodwaters slowly recede and we learn more about the impacts of this disaster, we will extend all support necessary to help north and north-west Queensland communities.”
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery, Ann Leahy, said the Queensland Government was in constant contact with councils to ensure affected communities received the support they needed.
The Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery said agencies were working closely with local governments to process applications and activate assistance.
“We’re working tirelessly to support all eligible requests for Personal Hardship Assistance and other DRFA measures,” Leahy said.
“Applications for hardship assistance can be made at the Queensland Government website or by calling the twenty four hour Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.”
