Natural disaster aid extended - "double blow" for 36 shires

The State Government has activated natural disaster assistance for four shires - taking the total shires where assistance has been activated this year to 83.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said of the areas where the joint State and Commonwealth-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements have been activated, assistance has been triggered in 36 shires twice this year.

"Natural disaster assistance is available in 83 shires covering about 83% of the State's land area. Assistance has been activated twice this year in 36 of those shires. These 36 shires account for almost 40% of the State."

Mr Roberts said the Department of Emergency Services had recommended NDRRA be activated for the far north Queensland shires of Hinchinbrook, Mareeba and Cook and for Kingaroy shire in the Burnett region. Assistance has been available in Mareeba and Cook shires following damage associated with the monsoonal low last month.

"Damage to public assets, such as roads, in Hinchinbrook Shire due to rain and flooding associated with the monsoonal low this month is currently estimated at $1 million, while initial damage estimates for Cook and Mareeba shires are $5 million and $4.5 million respectively," Mr Roberts said. 

"Damage estimates for Kingaroy following severe storms earlier this month currently stand at $500,000."

The assistance activated for four shires includes personal hardship support, restoration of essential public assets, including roads, and counter disaster operations, such as clean-up of debris.

Personal hardship assistance to individuals and families, and assistance for non-profit organisations is administered by the Department of Communities. The Department of Communities can be contacted on 1800 440 074.

Concessional loans for producers and small businesses should contact QRAA (Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority) on 1800 623 946.

* In addition, the Queensland Government’s "disaster situation" declaration for the Mackay region has now been lifted.

Mr Roberts said the "disaster situation" was declared on the morning (Friday, 15 February) of the deluge in Mackay to give authorities extra powers to organise the immediate response and plan for the recovery.

"The disaster situation was triggered as a pre-caution, and the initial declaration lasts seven days before it lapses. The advice has been that, with the co-operation of local community and the hard-work of council staff, police, emergency services volunteers and personnel, other government agencies, Red Cross and of course residents, the declaration did not need to be extended," Mr Roberts said.

Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3247 8194 or 0418 197 350