Disaster assistance arrangements in place

The Queensland Government activated disaster assistance following storms and associated flooding this week.

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said the Department of Emergency Services had recommended that joint State-Commonwealth disaster assistance be activated for eight local government areas on Monday following Sunday night’s storms.

“The joint State and Commonwealth-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) were activated for Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Somerset, Logan and Sunshine Coast local government areas.

“These disaster assistance arrangements were extended to Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Lockyer Valley, Dalby and Central Highlands local government areas following further storm activity,” Mr Roberts said.

NDRRA assistance has now been activated in 13 local government areas (Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Somerset, Logan, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba, Southern Downs, Lockyer Valley, Dalby and Central Highlands).

The assistance in these local government areas can provide:

• personal hardship assistance; and
• recovery of costs for restoring public assets, such as roads, and for costs of local councils' extraordinary disaster management activities.

Mr Roberts said that personal hardship grants of $165 per person and up to $765 per family may be available for directly impacted residents who have been unable to recover via their own means.

“Mean-tested essential household contents replacement and building repairs grant assistance may also be available of up to $10,100 for eligible individuals and up to $13,600 for eligible couples or families.”

Personal hardship assistance to individuals and families is administered by the Department of Communities.

Mr Roberts said that the Government had established five community Recovery Centres at Ashgrove, Everton Hills, Ipswich, Rosewood and Narangba.

“A shopfront centre has also been opened at Keperra where Building Services Authority staff are providing advice to homeowners,” he added.

The Department of Communities can be contacted on 1800 173 349.

Media Contact
Corinne Mulholland – 0419 786 114