State leasehold rent payments deferred to help cyclone recovery

Quarterly rent payments due on leased state land will be deferred until 30 June 2015 to help struggling leaseholders recover in areas damaged by ex-Tropical Cyclone Marcia.

Natural Resources and Mines Minister Dr Anthony Lynham said today the rent payment deferral will apply to all lease types, as well as instalment payments by affected landholders with a Freeholding lease, in natural disaster-declared local government areas of central Queensland.

“Queenslanders in the disaster-declared Rockhampton, Livingstone and Banana council areas were worst-hit by Cyclone Marcia which caused tremendous damage to property and livelihoods,” he said.

“Many leaseholders of state land in these affected areas will be doing it tough financially as they struggle to recover from property damage, loss of income and businesses including crops and livestock.

“Affected leaseholders include primary producers, some offshore island tourism operators, and individual residential and business holders of leases on state land.

“To help affected leaseholders recover, the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM) is extending the due date for quarterly rents and freeholding payment instalments until 30 June 2015 from the original due dates next month.

“This is practical assistance to help ease the financial burden on cyclone-affected leaseholders as they make the first steps on the road to recovery.”

Dr Lynham said his department estimated that Tropical Cyclone Marcia directly affected approximately 280 leaseholders in the Rockhampton, Livingstone and Banana council areas.

“The combined total of quarterly rent or freeholding instalment payments due in March from these affected tenure holders is approximately $717,000.

“The department is now contacting lessees directly to advise them about the extension of the payment deadline. There is also scope under the Land Regulation 2009 for a further deferral of payments.

“Leaseholders who think they might be eligible for additional leasehold rental assistance after 30 June 2015 should contact their nearest DNRM office for assistance or more information,” he said.