Bushfire disaster support activated for impacted residents in Western and Darling Downs
- Queenslanders impacted by bushfires at Captains Mountain, Cypress Gardens, Forest Ridge, Millmerran Downs, Millmerran Woods, Goranba, Kogan, Tara and Wieambilla can now apply for financial assistance.
- Individuals can apply for $180 in emergency assistance, with up to $900 available for a family of five or more.
- These Personal Hardship Assistance grants are available to cover the costs of essential items like food, clothing and medicine.
- Support up to $5,000 per household is also available to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged essential services.
Personal Hardship Assistance is now available to residents of the Western and Darling Downs regions whose homes have been impacted by recent bushfires.
The assistance provides $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five to cover the costs of essential items such as food, clothing and medicine.
Uninsured residents can also access means-tested grants up to $5,000 per household through the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme to reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water.
Support is being provided through the joint Commonwealth-State funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt:
“Bushfire-affected residents on Queensland’s Western and Darling Downs can now access assistance through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to help them recover from these fierce fires,” Minister Watt said.
“A range of assistance is available to support community recovery such as immediate personal hardship payments to cover the costs of essential items for individuals and families, as well as funding for impacted councils for operational response activities.
“Communities can be sure that the Australian and Queensland Governments will work together to provide much-needed practical assistance to them quickly to aid the recovery process in the immediate aftermath of a disaster event.”
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Steven Miles:
“Activating assistance is part of the support the Queensland and Australian Governments are providing for Captains Mountain, Cypress Gardens, Forest Ridge, Millmerran Downs, Millmerran Woods, Goranba, Kogan, Tara and Wieambilla residents whose properties have been damaged by these bushfires.
“Our emergency services and officers from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority will continue to work with Western Downs Regional Council and Toowoomba Regional Council to provide further assistance to those in need.”
