15 January 2008 - Assistance for flood-affected Whitsunday and northern regions

Queensland Treasurer and Acting Emergency Services Minister Andrew Fraser has activated financial assistance for 11 local government areas in the Whitsunday region and the State's north affected by flooding.

Mr Fraser said assistance is now available through the joint State-Commonwealth Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) for the 11 local government areas of Bowen and Whitsunday as well as Burdekin, Cairns, Cardwell, Eacham, Atherton, Johnstone, Townsville, Thuringowa and Mareeba.

Mr Fraser made the announcement following a tour of the flood affected Whitsunday region with Member for Whitsundays Jan Jarratt this morning.

"Early estimates put the damage bill in excess of $3 million to public infrastructure such as roads and bridges," he said.

“The toll on private property is still being assessed but is expected to rise as more heavy rain is expected in coming days.

"Falls of more than 350mm have been recorded in recent days causing flooding in low-lying areas of Airlie Beach, Bowen and Townsville.

"State Emergency Service crews are responding to calls for assistance and some roads to Airlie Beach and Proserpine remain cut.

"Assistance could be activated in other affected local government areas as damage assessments continue.”

Acting Communities Minister Rod Welford said the assistance included personal hardship support.

"Personal hardship grants of $160 per person and up to $740 per family for essentials such as food, dry clothes and accommodation are available to people affected by the floods," Mr Welford.

"Assistance is also available for building and contents repair and replacement. This assistance is means tested, with maximum assistance of $9800 for individuals and $13,200 for couples or families.

"The personal hardship assistance to individuals and families is administered by the Department of Communities. The Department can be contacted on 1800 440 074.

"Another form of assistance is for the reimbursement costs for local councils' extraordinary disaster management costs such as tarps, machinery hire and private debris clean-up. This support is administered by the Department of Emergency Services' Emergency Management Queensland."

Local MP Jan Jarratt said in addition, the NDRRA assistance activated is for restoration of essential public assets and costs of counter disaster operations, such as the clean-up of debris.

“A serious amount of water has been dumped in our area and the situation deserves a serious response,” Ms Jarratt said.

“I’d like to congratulate all those Emergency Services workers and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to assist flood affected residents in the Whitsunday region.”

Personal hardship assistance and other measures were activated for Cairns, Johnstone, Cardwell, Mareeba, Atherton and Eacham local government areas as a result of heavy rainfall and associated flooding as a result of the monsoon last week.

Media Contact: Chris Ward 0418 424 654