Grant assistance available for Queensland's flooded primary producers and small businesses
29 December 2021
Extraordinary assistance grants of up to $50,000 for primary producers and up to $25,000 for small businesses hit by the recent floods in Central, Southern and Western Queensland are now available to help communities get back on their feet.
The financial assistance is being jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the activation of extraordinary grant assistance under the DRFA was vital to help kick-start the recovery of affected primary producers and small businesses.
“While rain is always welcome in drought-prone Queensland, these floods could not have come at a worse time, with many growers now unable to harvest their winter crops, while others have had to watch their early plantings drown,” Minister McKenzie said.
“This DRFA assistance measure will provide grants of up to $50,000 to eligible primary producers in Banana, Bundaberg, Goondiwindi, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and the Western Downs, and grantsof up to $25,000 for eligible small businesses in the Goondiwindi region.
“The Australian Government will work with the Queensland Government to identify other areas and extend the assistance to other LGAs if required.
“This extraordinary assistance is in response to the extreme circumstances these hard-working primary producers and small businesses find themselves in, especially at this time of year.
“With a massive recovery job ahead of them, the Australian and Queensland governments are ensuring they have access to assistance to help them keep their vital on-farm and small business operations on track,” she said.
Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Steven Miles said DRFA assistance of $1 million has also been provided to the Goondiwindi Regional Council to support the recovery and resilience of this community, which was hardest hit by the floods.
“The people of Goondiwindi are no strangers to floodwaters but the destruction on display throughout the region as a result of this most recent event is on par with some of the worst in living memory," Mr Miles said.
“This payment will assist Council with ongoing recovery efforts and resilience planning for future flooding events.
“I welcome the support that producers and small businesses affected by the floods can now access in the form of extraordinary grant assistance to help them through the hard times on the road to recovery.
“The Australian and Queensland governments will continue to assess the recovery efforts over the coming months and stands ready to provide further assistance to help these communities get back on their feet,” he said.
This extension of the DRFA is in addition to the disaster assistance already available in Banana, Balonne, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Goondiwindi, Flinders, Lockyer Valley, Longreach, Maranoa, Murweh, Scenic Rim, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
For more information on assistance available to primary producers and small businesses, visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or freecall 1800 623 946.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the QRA’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au.
