Flood assistance extended to Southern Downs primary producers

Disaster assistance has been extended to help primary producers in the Southern Downs recover, following the heavy rainfall and flash flooding that drenched Southern Queensland in late March.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said DRFA Category B assistance, including low interest loans and freight subsidies, has been activated to help affected primary producers on their road recovery in the local government area of Southern Downs Regional Council.

“Many primary producers in the area were impacted by the floods, with significant damage to the agricultural sector including lost production and damaged infrastructure,” Minister Littleproud said.

“A lot of these primary producers have only recently come out of one of the worst droughts in living memory, and now they are facing extensive damage to crops, fences, pumps and other production infrastructure.

“This assistance is aimed at ensuring these hard-working primary producers have access to low interest loans to help them keep their essential operations on track.”

Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said today’s announcement meant essential on-farm operations would be able to continue in the months ahead.

“We want make sure primary producers in the Southern Downs who were impacted by the March floods have the assistance they need there at the ready to enable recovery,” Minister Furner said.

“Today’s announcement of the activation of DRFA Category B assistance includes concessional loans of up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 and freight subsidies of up to $5,000.

“This assistance will help cover the costs of essential on-farm business operations, including freight subsidies for the movement of stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water and building/fencing materials.

“We hope this goes some way to assisting those farmers in the Southern Downs impacted by the floods get back on their feet and look towards a prosperous future.

“The primary producer assistance measures announced today are in addition to the DRFA funding already available in the Southern Downs to help with repairing essential public infrastructure and counter disaster operations.” 

For more information on low interest loans for primary producers in the Southern Downs, please phone Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority on 1800 623 946 or visit http://www.qrida.qld.gov.au

For information on the freight subsidies visit daf.qld.gov.au or phone the DAF Customer Service Centre on 13 25 23.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au  and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au      

Media Contacts:

Minister Littleproud: Douglas Ferguson, 0455 448 985

Minister Furner: Ron Goodman, 0427 781 920