Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Federal Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Senator Linda Reynolds have announced the activation of Category C recovery grants for primary producers devastated by widespread flooding in North Queensland.
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Assistant Minister Reynolds said the Category C assistance, provided through the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements would provide impacted primary producers in seven local government areas with grants of up to $25,000.
The areas include Cloncurry, McKinlay and Richmond in the North West.
“The unprecedented flooding from the monsoon trough in northern and western Queensland called for an extraordinary response to aid recovery,” Assistant Minister Reynolds said.
“Farmers in parts of Queensland are watching their stock die and their crops ruined by this protracted and devastating flood.
“Gut-wrenching information has come through about stock losses of 25 to 50 per cent of entire herds of cattle and groups of 300 to 400 cattle clustered along fence lines as well as dead animals in flood water flowing through and around towns.
“There are also animals, weakened by the drought, isolated by floodwaters and unable to reach fodder.
“This assistance will help affected primary producers with their clean up and recovery efforts.”
Premier Palaszczuk, who was in Cloncurry on Thursday, welcomed the Commonwealth Government approval of the extraordinary assistance for farmers.
“These grants have been made available for the councils of Burdekin, Douglas, Townsville, Hinchinbrook, Cloncurry, McKinlay and Richmond, with more expected to follow as information becomes available,” Premier Palaszczuk said.
“With record-breaking rain still falling on many Queensland communities, it will take weeks to get a comprehensive understanding of the scale of damage, but we already know farmers in these seven areas have suffered huge losses.
“Many of these properties are isolated by floodwaters, producers and communities have had their supply chains disrupted, with fodder, feed and crop losses as well as goods on route to regional markets lost or spoiled.
“Our struggling producers have a massive clean-up and recovery job ahead so I’m grateful our request for Category C funding was approved by the Prime Minister.”
The Category C clean-up and recovery grants are available from QRIDA at www.qrida.qld.gov.au or by calling 1800 623 946.
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