Millions distributed to North Queenslanders affected by flooding

More than $4.85 million has now been distributed to North, North-West and Far North Queenslanders who have experienced hardship in the wake of devastating flooding in these regions.

Communities Minister Coralee O’Rourke today joined a Community Recovery outreach team visiting affected Townsville households to offer support and said more than 27,000 people in flood-affected areas had benefitted from Emergency Hardship Assistance grants.

“These grants of $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more, help cover the costs of essential items such as food, clothing and accommodation immediately after this type of disaster,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“This can make all the difference as people begin to recover from a disaster of this magnitude and start to get their lives back on track.

“There is still plenty of time for people impacted by flooding in affected areas to apply for grants, so I urge any residents who have experienced difficulty in accessing financial and other support to please reach out to us via the Community Recovery Hotline.”

Mrs O’Rourke said the Palaszczuk Government now had around 690 staff were now working on the community recovery operation across the state.

“This includes grant processing teams that are working around the clock, 24-hours a day to get grants out to the people who need them as quickly as possible,” she said.

“We also have teams of Ready Reserves working across five community recovery hubs, in pop-up hubs and doing outreach.

“Outreach has been occurring in areas such as Idalia, Railway Estate, Mundingburra, Oonoonba, Rosslea and West End to extend face-to-face support to people who are doing it tough.

“There are hundreds of boots on the ground in the hard-hit areas and we’ll continue working in these communities for as long as we’re needed.”

Other grants such the Essential Household Contents Grant, Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant and Structural Assistance Grant, which are income tested, are also available to eligible residents who are uninsured and have experienced certain loss or damage following this disaster.

The grants are made available through jointly-funded Commonwealth/State-Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements.

For more information on the grants, financial assistance and locations of community recovery hub, go to www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/queensland-disasters/fnq-monsoonal-trough or contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349

ENDS

Media Contact: Benjamin Mulcahy 0419 562 389