The Queensland Government has today extended the emergency planning declaration to support food, medicines and essential supplies getting into stores – plus boosted recovery assistance grants for primary producers, smaller business and not-for profits in the north, as natural disaster recovery efforts continue at both ends of the state.
Shops, warehouses and transport depots in 21 local government areas will be permitted to continue to temporarily operate around the clock, in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Alfred. See the full list here.
New services have also been added to the extended Applicable Event Declaration, including service stations, abattoirs and food processing facilities. See the full list here.
Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations Jarrod Bleijie says the declaration expansion is necessary to keep getting as much stock back on the shelves as possible.
“We remain focused on restoring the food and essential supply chains that were affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred,” he says.
“This expansion will enable business including shops, health care services, chemists, warehouses, transport depots, servos and hardware supply businesses to restock 24/7.”
Bleijie says the Applicable Event Declaration for Far North Queensland and North Queensland remains in place.
“We are still focused on Far North Queensland and North Queensland communities that are still picking up the pieces from their catastrophic flooding event last month,” he adds.
To this end, the Government has allocated more than $50 million in new extraordinary disaster assistance to guide long-term flood recovery in the north.
Funded by the Federal and State Governments under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, this latest tranche of extraordinary disaster assistance includes targeted packages to fund repairs to sport and recreation facilities and community assets.
In addition, Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants have increased from $25,000 to $75,000 for primary producers and $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits.
The Albanese and Crisafulli Governments are also extending disaster assistance to Aurukun, Burke, Doomadgee, Mareeba, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum and Torres Councils following February’s flood event across northern Queensland.
This DRFA support will fund councils’ response, clean-up and recovery, including emergency repairs and long-term reconstruction of the road network.
This support takes the total number of councils receiving DRFA assistance in response to the North and Far North Tropical Low weather event to 38.
“Today’s announcement will help restore community and recreational infrastructure. We want to help get communities back on their feet and this is an important step,” Queensland Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister says.
“North and Far North Queensland farmers are so important to the region and local economy. Today we are tripling the grant available to primary producers to help get recovery started.
“I want to thank local leaders and industry for their work as the impact has been assessed. These increases will mean more funding for stock feed, repair works and debris removal.”
For primary producer grants and loans, and rural landholder grants, visit the QRIDA website, www.qrida.qld.gov.au or call 1800 623 946.
For more information about this extraordinary disaster assistance in support of north and far north Queensland flood recovery please visit www.qra.qld.gov.au.