Queensland’s state government has announced a host of relief packages for farmers impacted by floods
Both short-term and long-term measures have been announced to help farmers and communities affected by floods in north-west Queensland.
Farmers can access primary producer Disaster Recovery Grants up to $75,000 in Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton Shires, which include upfront payments of $10,000.
The grants are from combined state and federal government funding, along with another $11.5 million allocated for critical repairs and increased flood resilience at Cloncurry Airport.
The governments have also spent $7 million on an emergency fodder package to help farmers keep their stock fed, with access to this available by contacting local councils.
Another major combined announcement was an $11.32 million Primary Producer Support Package, which offers “wrap-around care for impacted farmers, with access to financial and human counselling, feral pest and locust management, and industry recovery and resilience officers.”
There is also more than $4 million in mental health support for communities, along with a $1 million community relief fund to boost Issac Regional Council’s immediate recovery and clean-up.
Queensland’s state government also announced a 12-month rent deferral for primary producers holding leases in the seven aforementioned council areas, which they say will support more than 1,100 leaseholders.
Additional council areas will be added as declarations are extended following ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji, the government adds.
“Central and North Queensland has been battered by a one-two punch, with monsoonal flooding over the new year followed by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji,” Queensland regional and rural development minister Dale Last says.
“The last thing families on the land need is a rental bill from the government.
“The deferral will be applied to eligible leaseholders automatically, with payment not required until March 2027.”
Personal hardship assistance payments were also extended to residents of Carpentaria, providing emergency payments of $180 per individual – up to $900 for families of five or more – to cover immediate essentials such as food, medicine and clothing.
This is in addition to income-tested assistance with replacing essential household items, reconnecting essential services and repairing flood damaged homes.
For more information about support available, visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au