More financial assistance available to people following flooding in North Queensland

More North Queensland residents are now able to access financial assistance and support services following the extreme flooding over recent days, with parts of the Burdekin and further areas of Townsville now activated.

Acting Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman said people in some of the southern suburbs of Townsville and in parts of the Burdekin had been hard-hit by continued heavy rain and flooding and would need Emergency Hardship Assistance grants to help them recover.

“We know that people living in these communities have been badly impacted by this one in 100 year weather event – particularly those who have had to leave their homes,” Ms Fentiman said.

“It’s not yet over and we are continuing to see some of the worst flooding in decades damaging properties and isolating communities.

“These grants, through jointly-funded Commonwealth/State Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA), are now available help cover the costs of essential items – such as food, medication and clothing – for people in North Queensland directly impacted by this monsoonal trough.

“Up to $180 per person, to a maximum of $900 for a family of five or more, is provided to people experiencing genuine financial hardship as a result of flooding.”

The new suburbs and areas that have been activated for financial assistance are:

Townsville City Council: Rosslea; Hermit Park; Oonoonba; Idalia; Railway Estate; Beach Holm; Yabalu and Cluden, Bohle, Saunders Creek (Bohle Plains), Stoney Creek (Roseneath), Deeragun, Jensen, Burdell, Condon, Rasmussen, Kelso, Kirwan, Mt Low, South Townsville, Townsville City, Wulguru, Stuart, Bluewater Park

Burdekin Shire Council: Barratta; Cromarty; Giru; Horseshoe Lagoon; Jerona; Mount Surround; Shirbourne; Upper Haughton and Majors Creek (Burdekin Shire).

This is in addition to the areas already activated in Townsville, which are: Bluewater; Toolakea, Black River, Alligator Creek, Nome and Julago.

Affected residents can go to www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au or download the Self Recovery app for information or to apply for grants, including Emergency Hardship Grants.

When completing an online grant application, please ensure that you enter your full name as it appears on your driver’s licence and copy the Medicare number and driver’s licence number exactly as they appear on the cards.

People without internet access can ring the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to apply for grants and for advice on how to access to support services.

Ms Fentiman said Ready Reserve staff were being deployed to support locally-led community recovery efforts, with more expected to be deployed over the coming days.

“They will be out in the community door-knocking homes as soon as floodwaters recede and it’s safe for them to travel to these hard-hit areas,” she said.

The Queensland Government is continuing to monitor and assess the needs of other communities affected by this weather event.

For more information about the Queensland Government’s community recovery efforts go to www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies.

ENDS

Media Contact: Communities Minister’s office (07) 3719 7184