The Federal and State Government have made available a suite of initiatives to help flood-affected primary producers, small businesses, and community groups in the Lockyer Valley, that face a massive clean-up operation in the aftermath of the ongoing floods.
Financial help is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz welcomed the inclusion of farmers, small businesses and community groups in the DRFA assistance and said it would be welcome news to Lockyer Valley residents.
“After 2011, 13, 17 flooding events and of course the many other weather events and natural disasters – we learned that extending recovery assistance to farmers and small businesses is important and getting it out quickly matters. I am pleased we are doing that through concessional loans and grants – we can get farmers and businesses back on their feet sooner and ease some of the cost burden.
“This package provides Council with $1 million for immediate clean-up activities, makes $75,000 in grants available for affected primary producers, $50,000 grants for affected small businesses and not-for-profit organisations and $20,000 for sport and community clubs,” Mr Buchholz said.
State Member for Lockyer, Jim McDonald said the funds were welcome news to assist local farmers with access to freight subsidies of up to $5,000.
“Through drought and flood, primary producers in the Lockyer have always maintained that the freight subsidy is a key component that government can assist with, to address the cost of transporting stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water and fencing materials.
“It is also great that our community here in the Lockyer can now access grants of up to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more and up to $180 per person to eligible people experiencing financial hardship because of the floods. In addition to the federally funded $1,000 per adult and $400 per child.
“The latest support package includes concessional loans up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 to help kick-start the recovery of impacted primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations,” Mr McDonald said.
DRFA low interest loans as well as freight subsidies for eligible primary producers are now available in 17 LGAs: Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast, and Toowoomba.
The grant payments are being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for eligible applicants in the 19 local government areas of Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
This DRFA assistance is in addition to assistance already available for cases of personal hardship, as well as for councils and agencies for counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential infrastructure.
More information: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/money-finance/eligibility-apply/seq-flooding-february-2022
Media contacts:
Mr Buchholz – Scott O’Connell 0413 424 384
