Category C funding now available for hardest hit producers

Producers worst affected by Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie can now apply for grants of up to $25,000 to help them clean-up and recover.

Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne said the grants would be a lifeline to producers who have lost crops, stock and infrastructure in the cyclonic winds and associated flooding.

Category C assistance under the joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) was activated based on damage reports, the Minister said.

“My department’s staff inspected more than 325 properties across the regions and worked with industry and producers to quantify and document the full impact to agriculture and demonstrate the need for Category C assistance grants,” he said.

“The estimated damage across all agriculture and fisheries industries within the Whitsunday and Mackay areas is over $300 million.

“In Bowen, there are horticulture impacts of over $100 million in vegetable crop losses, with yield reductions forecast for next year’s mango crops.

 “Proserpine and Mackay are suffering from $139 million in lost sugar production and there is $30 million in damage to Whitsunday and Mackay beef properties including infrastructure and fencing damage.

 “In South-East Queensland the horticulture industry has suffered impacts of around $7 million, nurseries have lost $10 million in stock and infrastructure damage and dairy farmers have suffered impacts of $6 million.

 “Overall about $35 million in impacts to agriculture and fisheries is forecast in the Council areas of Logan City, Scenic Rim and parts of the Gold Coast.

 “For many producers this is the second or even third time they have been hit by flooding in recent years.

 “The beef cattle industry is the main industry affected in the Clarke Creek area from the record floods with losses in the Clarke Creek to Duaringa districts estimated from $55 to $69 million.

 “Most of this loss is through degraded pastures and decline in livestock condition, and massive infrastructure damage including fences, pumps, yards and buildings.

 “Overall, the direct impact of STC Debbie on agriculture in the whole of Queensland is estimated to be in the vicinity of $450 million.

 “Our struggling producers have a big clean up and recovery job ahead so I’m grateful that our request for Category C funding was activated by the Acting Prime Minister.

 “Producers can access grants of up to $25,000 to help with their clean up and recovery efforts on their property.

 "Producers in these regions can also access Category B assistance which includes concessional loans of up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 and freight subsidies of up to $5,000.”

In Central Queensland the areas activated for Category C are:

• Whitsunday Regional Council
• Mackay Regional Council
• Part of Isaac Regional Council
• Part of Livingstone Regional Council
• Part of Central Highlands Regional Council
• Part of Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council

South East Queensland areas activated for Category C are:

• Logan City Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Part of Gold Coast City Council

 To view a map listing the Category C locations visit www.qraa.qld.gov.au.

The Category C clean-up and recovery grants and Category B concessional loans are available from QRAA at www.qraa.qld.gov.au or by calling 1800 623 946 from 9am on Monday. The freight subsidies grants are available from www.daf.qld.gov.au or by calling 13 25 23.

Producers can contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or QRAA on 1800 623 946 from Monday if they are unsure if they are within a Category C activated area.

Media: 0448 994 172

ENDS