Personal Hardship Assistance for more disaster hit Moreton Bay residents

New localities across the City of Moreton Bay have been activated for Personal Hardship Assistance through joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) in response to recent heavy rainfall and flooding.

This includes the suburbs of Arana Hills, Beachmere, Burpengary East, Caboolture, Dayboro, Eatons Hill, Highvale, Joyner, Laceys Creek, Lawnton, Samford Valley, Samford Village, Strathpine, Warner and Wights Mountain.

The Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme includes 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, and a number of other financial measures to help eligible residents make their homes safe to live in and to reconnect essential services.

Personal Hardship Assistance also remains available for flood affected Bray Park residents, while Moreton Bay Council is being supported with counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets following ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt:

“As we learn more about the severe impacts of this week’s wild weather we’re activating further Personal Hardship Assistance for Queenslanders,” Minister Watt said.

“These emergency assistance measures are designed to get people through this immediate aftermath and back on their feet as soon as possible.

“As well as grants for food, clothes, and replacement linen and whitegoods, there are also income-tested grants to help vulnerable, uninsured residents reconnect essential services and repair their homes.

“The Australian and Queensland Governments will always be there in times of need.”

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

“If you live in any of these disaster activated Moreton Bay suburbs and were affected by the recent storms please see what funding you’re eligible for,” Ms Boyd said.

“This can be done through www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

“The strength of the community in the wake of this flooding has been truly incredible, and I thank everyone who has pitched in to help family, friends and neighbours.

“As our frontline officers continue working with council gathering information on the ground, we’ll do whatever it takes to support residents and come out the other side of this.”

Additional information on assistance available:

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 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, water or sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.

Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets

• Reimbursement for the reconstruction of eligible public assets, damaged as a direct result of a disaster. This includes emergency repairs and immediate, permanent rebuild to pre-disaster function.

Counter Disaster Operations

• To help councils and state agencies with activities that alleviate personal hardship and distress, address urgent community needs, and protect residents immediately prior to, during, or in the aftermath of a disaster.

To learn more about DRFA support, including a summary of assistance activated in response to ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, head to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority website.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister Watt: Tali Eley 0499 770 772

Minister Boyd: Kerryn Manifold 0428 510 973