Flood-affected residents in the Etheridge Shire Council area can now access financial assistance through joint funding from the Federal and Queensland Governments.
The support package includes emergency payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for families of five or more to help cover immediate costs such as food, clothing and medicine.
Additional assistance is available for low-income and uninsured residents, including Structural Assistance Grants of up to $80,000 to help repair damaged homes to a safe and habitable standard.
Temporary emergency accommodation support is also available for impacted residents.
The assistance follows heavy monsoonal rainfall that caused the Copperfield and Gilbert rivers to reach levels not seen for more than 50 years.
Support is being delivered under the joint federal-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain, said the assistance would help residents manage immediate recovery needs.
“This hardship assistance will help affected Etheridge Shire residents deal with their immediate requirements and position them for the road to recovery when floodwaters go down,” McBain said.
“It will keep food on the table, clothes on peoples’ backs, and get the power reconnected.
“We stand with every Queenslander battling this disaster and will make sure support is distributed quickly.”
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery, Ann Leahy, said the Queensland Government was focused on supporting rural and remote communities.
“The funding available will help our North Queensland communities push through the challenging weeks and months ahead,” Leahy said.
“We are in constant contact with all impacted councils and will keep activating the necessary financial aid to support recovery.”
Primary producers in Etheridge Shire and the Central Highlands can also access disaster loans of up to $250,000 and freight subsidies of up to $5,000 to support flood recovery and ongoing operations.
