An $8 million Community Relief Fund, jointly funded by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments, is now available to councils impacted by flooding and severe weather, to allow them to kick off essential and immediate recovery activities.

Funding of up to $1 million per Local Government Area is available for Burdekin, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville, Whitsunday and Yarrabah Councils.

The package, funded under Category C of the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), will provide timely and immediate support to impacted councils to remove waste and debris, clean-up properties, community facilities, playground and parks, and undertake other make safe activities as required by council to progress with local recovery.

The latest funding follows disaster assistance already provided by the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments in the wake of the devastating floods, including Personal Hardship Assistance payments to eligible residents and counter disaster assistance funding for councils.

Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements activated so far:

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to purchase immediate essentials like food, clothing and medicine.
• 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.
• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $80,000 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 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.

Disaster Assistance Loans and Essential Working Capital Loans for Primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profits 

• Disaster Assistance Loans up to $250,000 for eligible primary producers and small businesses and up to $100,000 for eligible not-for-profits will help re-establish operations by covering costs relating to repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment, repairing or replacing buildings or resupplying stock or livestock.
• Essential Working Capital Loans up to $100,000 are available to help operators carry on business operations, including paying salaries or wages, creditors, rent or rates
• Current NQ localities activated: Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Townsville, Yarrabah.

Current NQ localities activated for the DRFA Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme:

• Burdekin: Airdmillan, Barratta, Carstairs, Cromarty, Giru, Groper Creek, Horseshoe Lagoon, Inkerman, Jarvisfield, Jerona, Majors Creek, Mona Park, Mount Surround, Rita Island, Shirbourne, Upper Haughton.
• Cairns: Gordonvale (targeted areas).
• Cassowary Coast: Cardwell, Damper Creek, Ellerbeck, Kennedy.
• Hinchinbrook: Entire LGA
• Palm Island: Entire LGA
• Townsville: Alligator Creek, Arcadia, Balgal Beach, Black River, Blue Hills, Bluewater, Bluewater Park, Cape Cleveland, Clemant, Cluden, Crystal Creek, Cungulla, Florence Bay, Gumlow, Hermit Park, Horseshoe Bay, Idalia, Lynam, Majors Creek, Mutarnee, Nelly Bay, Nome, Oonoonba, Paluma, Picnic Bay, Railway Estate, Rollingstone, Rosslea, Saunders Beach, South Townsville, Stuart, Toolakea, Toomulla, West Point and Yabulu.

Current NQ councils activated for DRFA assistance to support their counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets:

• Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday, Yarrabah

For more information, visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding-programs.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “In the worst of times we see the best of Australians.

“We’ve seen that in recent days in Queensland, with Australians helping one another in their time of need.

“My Government will make sure this region gets all the support it needs to get back on its feet.”

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli said, “Queenslanders can be confident all levels of government were working to deliver the support needed today and in the months ahead. 

“Natural disasters leave their mark and while the road to recovery is long, these communities won’t be walking it alone, we won’t stop until the job is done.

“Support is flowing now and will continue as we work tirelessly to ensure the recovery process delivers what is needed for these communities.”

Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said, “Councils across North Queensland are doing a remarkable job on the frontline, keeping communities safe.

“I’ve been incredibly grateful for the excellent advice and reports I’ve received from mayors in this region over the past week. I am so thankful for their work supporting their communities.

“This funding supports councils to continue prioritising community safety in the wake of the floods.

“The severe rainfall and flooding has had an immense impact on the region with large amount of debris, silt and waste that requires immediate clean-up to protect the health of communities.

“The Albanese Government will continue working hand in glove with the Queensland Government to support impacted communities through this event and into recovery.”

Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said, "Given the enormous toll across communities, providing timely government support is paramount.

“We’re working closely with all impacted councils to understand and meet the unique and often complex recovery needs of each community.

“The Queensland Reconstruction Authority has dedicated officers supporting all local governments affected across the north and will make sure the full benefits of this support package and others are extended to flooded areas of the region.”