Assistance available for Lockyer farmers hit by hail

• Hailstorm caused localised damage in Lockyer Valley region
• Loans and freight assistance available for impacted producers
• Growers urged to complete disaster impact survey

Disaster assistance loans are available to primary producers who suffered damaged from intense local hail during a storm late last week.

Friday night’s hailstorm has so far resulted in damage reports from 18 producers, with three reporting catastrophic damage, 12 reporting major damage and three reporting moderate damage.

Primary producers significantly affected during a disaster but not located in a defined disaster area may be eligible to apply for assistance as an individually disaster-stricken enterprise. 

Those producers should contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) on 13 25 23 to request an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration.

Once in receipt of an IDSP certificate, producers can be eligible for disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000 through QRIDA and freight assistance to help with emergency repairs to equipment, fencing and machinery as a result of this storm.

Impacted producers are urged to report damage through the DAF Agriculture Disaster Impact Survey.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:

“Lockyer Valley growers are among the best in the state and are key suppliers of the nation’s best fresh produce,” Mr Furner said.

“I’ll be visiting the region later this week, once the Parliamentary sittings have finished.

“It’s important these growers know that we have their backs with loans and freight subsidies to help them get back to production as soon as possible.”

ENDS

Media contact – 0417 296 116