Financial recovery assistance is now available for primary producers who were impacted by the flooding that occurred in Southern Queensland throughout mid May.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) were activated based on initial damage reports collated by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF).
“The unseasonably late rain event from 6-20 May has resulted in cashflow issues from multiple crop losses, additional impacts to soils and erosion due to ongoing flooding of already waterlogged soils, and further infrastructure losses including reinstated fencing and livestock losses,” Mr Furner said.
“DAF has worked with local governments, industry and impacted producers to gather initial impacts to quickly activate financial recovery assistance.
“DAF staff have also been on the ground assessing the damage to farm infrastructure, crops and livestock where it is safe to do so.
“This assistance will provide affected producers with access to concessional loans of up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 at a concessional interest rate, and freight subsidies of up to $5,000.
“Eligible producers should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application. Please date stamp these photographs to show the damage is from this natural disaster event.
“Unfortunately, some of our impacted producers have already been through flood events this season and the impact to wellbeing and mental health is taking a toll.
“I encourage those who are suffering and in distress to seek and my department is here to assist where we can.”
Local government areas activated for this Southern Queensland Flood Event disaster assistance:
- Bundaberg Regional Council
- Gympie Regional Council
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council
- Moreton Bay Regional Council
- North Burnett Regional Council
- Scenic Rim Regional Council
- Somerset Regional Council
- South Burnett Regional Council
- Southern Downs Regional Council
- Toowoomba Regional Council
- Western Downs Regional Council
Primary producers who have suffered major damage outside the above declared areas may apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration.
“An IDSP provides access to Queensland Government assistance similar to the Category B DRFA of freight subsidies and concessional loans,” Mr Furner said.
“I encourage primary producers to continue to report their damage on our so we can continue to assess if further assistance is required.”
