Following severe flooding in February, the Queensland government has made disaster recovery packages available worth more than $50 million.
Funded by the federal and state governments under the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), this latest tranche of extraordinary disaster assistance includes:
- $30 million Sport and Recreational Community Facilities Recovery Program to rebuild and carry out repairs on flood impacted sport and rec facilities
- $20 million Community and Recreational Assets Recovery Program a grants-based program to repair and rebuild affected community facilities
Previously announced $25,000 Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants will also increase to $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits.
The governments are also extending disaster assistance to Aurukun, Burke, Doomadgee, Mareeba, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum and Torres Councils following February’s flood event across northern Queensland.
This DRFA support will fund councils’ response, clean-up and recovery, including emergency repairs and long-term reconstruction of the road network.
This support takes the total number of councils receiving DRFA assistance in response to the North and Far North Tropical Low weather event to 38.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAllister, said that this announcement will help restore community and recreational infrastructure.
“We want to help get communities back on their feet and this is an important step,” Minister McAllister said.
“North and Far North Queensland farmers are so important to the region and local economy. Today we are tripling the grant available to primary producers to help get recovery started.
“I want to thank local leaders and industry for their work as the impact has been assessed. This increase will mean more funding for stock feed, repair works and debris removal.”
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery, Ann Leahy, said that an uplift to recovery grants would be welcome news for primary producers, small business and not-for-profits.
“The Queensland government has been working arm in arm with operators and industry bodies and we’ve now moved to increase Disaster Recovery Grants across eligible north Queensland LGAs,” Minister Leahy said.
“This includes boosting grants for primary producers to $75,000, and for small business and not-for-profits to $50,000 to get them back on their feet and local economies moving again.”
Queensland Minister for Regional and Rural Development, Dale Last, said that Queensland agencies are on the ground listening and delivering.
“The TV cameras might have gone down south, but we’re with North Queensland for the long run,” Minister Last said.
“The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority is well prepared for this significant uplift, with staff in North Queensland ready to assist eligible producers, small businesses and not-for-profits.”
