Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council activated for ex-TC Jasper hardship assistance

Personal Hardship Assistance payments are now available to Hope Vale residents impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Residents can access grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing and medicine.

The Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme also provides access to a number of other support measures for individuals, including Structural Assistance Grants up to $50,000 for uninsured owner-occupiers to help repair their home. The scheme has already been activated in Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah LGAs.

Additionally, the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme is available to eligible homeowners needing to reconnect electricity, gas, water or sewerage.

Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council is already activated for assistance with counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets, with all support jointly funded through Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Queenslanders requiring disaster support can contact the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt:

“As floodwaters recede we are seeing more impacts from Jasper across Far North Queensland, and we are responding at speed,” Mr Watt said.

“The Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme offers a variety of payments to help disaster affected residents get back on their feet.

“These new DRFA support measures complement the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payments up to $1000 we’ve also just announced, which are available via www.servicesaustralia.gov.au.”

Quotes attributable to minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Nikki Boyd:

“The damage caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper is extensive and far reaching, and as we get more intel through we continue pushing out extra support,” Ms Boyd said.

“Personal Hardship Assistance recognises that people affected by natural disaster need support for life’s basics during a very difficult time.

“I want to assure Far North Queenslanders we will be right here with them on their recovery journey, and we won’t rest until the work is done.”

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme:

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to support immediate essential needs such as food, clothing or medical supplies.
• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $50,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling damaged to return it to a safe and habitable condition.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.

• Essential Household Contents Grants – up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme:

• Income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water. Up to $5,000 per household.

DRFA funding for ex-TC Jasper is currently available to Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Mareeba, Tablelands, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah LGAs.

Further information on disaster assistance can be found at www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or www.disasterassist.gov.au.

ENDS

Media contacts:
Minister Watt: Tali Eley 0499 770 772
Minister Boyd: Bill Walker 0437 859 987