Queensland extends agri-business, SME flood grants

Primary producers in the Balonne, Lockyer Valley, Southern Downs, Somerset, Western Downs, and Gympie local government areas now have access to additional primary producer recovery grants of up to $75,000.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said the government has worked with local governments, industry, and impacted producers to gather further information on the extent of the damage.

“A number of local government areas have suffered severe impacts from multiple rain events this disaster season and the cumulative affect is quite significant,” Mr Furner said.

“Impacts have included multiple crop losses, impacts to soils and erosion, and infrastructure and livestock losses.

“Some of our impacted producers who have been through multiple flood events this season are feeling the toll on their wellbeing and mental health.”

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the grants will provide funding for a range of clean-up and recovery activities, including salvaging crops and making repairs to damaged fencing.

“The grants will help these organisations with their recovery by providing funding toward the clean-up and repair of flood damaged assets, including damage to equipment, flooring, and walls in premises,” Mr Watt said.

In addition, grants of up to $50,000 have also been made available to small businesses and non-profit organisations in the Balonne, Gympie, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, Somerset, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, and Western Downs local government areas.

Further, the previously announced $721 million jointly funded Commonwealth and Queensland Government DRFA exceptional circumstances package has now been extended to cover local government areas activated for the Southern Queensland flooding event.

The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) assistance is now available in: Balonne, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, and Western Downs.

The floods impacting Queensland farmers has fed into increasing costs of produce in Australia.

Tens of thousands of borrowers were inundated with floodwater in Queensland and NSW over March and April, with many only just starting to get back to normality before more rain caused flooding across Queensland in May.

[Related: Qld government launches SME, farmer flood assistance]