DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR PRIMARY PRODUCERS FOLLOWING NORTHERN AND CENTRAL-WESTERN QUEENSLAND FLOODS

Disaster assistance is available to primary producers in Barcaldine, Longreach and Winton after intense rainfall and flooding swept through Northern and Central-Western Queensland during April and May.

The assistance is made available through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and will give primary producers in those areas access to freight subsidies of up to $5,000 and low-interest loans of up to $250,000. 

This assistance will provide a helping hand to those who have been affected by the event between 21 April and 12 May 2022.

Croydon Shire Council has also been added to the list of councils activated for counter disaster operations, which will help with the costs of the clean-up and recovery.

Heavy rain fell across multiple days throughout Northern and Central-Western Queensland, which left widespread damage.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said 20 Local Government Areas have been activated for DRFA assistance in response to the Northern and Central-Western Queensland rainfall and flooding event.

“Everyone who is affected by these serious weather events should have access to the financial support they need to recover,” Minister Ryan said.

“It’s been an unusually long disaster season, with extreme rainfall landing heavily on our state, well into what would normally be Queensland’s dry season.

“Nine natural disasters have unleashed their fury in just the span of a few months which has resulted in numerous activations of DRFA assistance along with never seen before extraordinary disaster packages.

“All the available support requested will continue to be provided, as many areas are left licking their wounds after these most recent onslaughts of disasters which have been bestowed on us.”

In response to the Northern and Central-Western Queensland rainfall and flooding event from 21 April – 12 May, DRFA assistance has been activated for Barcaldine Regional Council, Barcoo Regional Council, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Boulia Shire Council, Burdekin Shire Council, Carpentaria Shire Council, Charters Towers, Cloncurry Shire Council, Cook Shire Council, Croydon Shire Council, Douglas Shire Council, Flinders Shire Council, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, Longreach Regional Council, McKinlay Shire Council, Mornington Shire Council, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, Richmond Shire Council, Winton Shire Council and Whitsunday Regional Council.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au

Media contacts:

Minister Ryan’s Office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300