Funding support for communities affected by 2019 Queensland bushfires

Grants of up to $100,000 are now available for community groups, local councils and non-government organisations in 23 communities impacted by the bushfires last year.

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said applications were now open for the second round of flexible funding grants, with a total of $4.2 million available for bushfire affected communities.

“We know that the communities impacted by devastating bushfires in the spring and summer of 2019 are continuing to rebuild their lives and recover as a community,” Minister Littleproud said.

“The flexible funding grants are available for programs and projects that will support local communities through their long-term recovery.

“The Australian and Queensland Governments will continue to support impacted communities on their recovery journey from the bushfires,” he said.

Queensland Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said the $4.2 million funding round follows on from the first round of flexible funding grants, which provided $1.8 million to 37 projects across Queensland.

“Some of the projects that received funding in the first round included a community disaster recovery hub and animal refuge at Mount Larcom, a community bushfire preparation project in Toowoomba and improvements to the Baffle Creek Community Centre,” Minister Enoch said.

“Small grants of between $2,500 and $50,000 and larger grants of up to $100,000 are now available,” she said.

The flexible funding grants are open to community groups, local councils and non-government organisations in the local government areas:

•          Brisbane (City)

•           Bundaberg

•           Gold Coast (City)

•           Cook

•           Fraser Coast

•           Gladstone

•           Gympie

•           Ipswich

•           Livingstone

•           Lockyer Valley

•           Mareeba

•           Noosa

•           North Burnett

•           Redland

•           Rockhampton

•           Scenic Rim

•           Somerset

•           South Burnett

•           Southern Downs

•           Sunshine Coast

•           Toowoomba

•           Townsville

•           Whitsunday

Funding for the flexible funding grants is available under the jointly funded Australian and Queensland Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) through a Category C Community Recovery Fund (CRF).

Grant applications close at 2pm on 11 February 2021.

Successful grant projects must be able to be delivered in line with COVID-19 safety measures.

More information on the flexible funding grants, including how to submit an application, can be found at https://www.communities.qld.gov.au/industry-partners/funding-grants/funding-available.

ENDS

Media contacts:

• Douglas Ferguson 0455 448 985 (Minister Littleproud)
• Debbie Turner 0437 859 987 (Minister Enoch)