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 have been made available to help communities get back on their feet.
The financial assistance is being jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience 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 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.
"The National Recovery and Resilience Agency will continue to work closely with communities and industry to help these communities get back on their feet."
The latest announcement 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 regions.
State Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Steven Miles said DRFA assistance of $1 million had also been provided to the Goondiwindi Regional Council to support the recovery and resilience of that 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 the 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."
He said both federal and state governments would continue to assess the recovery efforts over the coming months and provide further assistance to help communities get back on their feet.
More information on the assistance available to primary producers and small businesses at the QRIDA website or freecall 1800 623 946.
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