The assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, senator the Honourable Murray Watt said major flooding from several local catchments during the severe weather event resulted in widespread road closures and damage from Balonne to the Gold Coast.
“Balonne Shire Council and City of Gold Coast Council can now be reimbursed through the DRFA for their clean-up and reconstruction costs,” Mr Watt said.
“In addition, impacted small businesses in Balonne, Moreton Bay, and Toowoomba, as well as impacted not-for-profit organisations in Balonne, Gympie, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, Somerset, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and the Western Downs can now access low-interest loans up to $100,000.”
The announcement is in addition to the DRFA assistance measures already in place in all of these local government areas.
This extension of the DRFA brings the total number of local government areas receiving disaster assistance to 20. These LGAs are Balonne, Brisbane, Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs.
For more information on assistance available to small businesses and not-for-profit organisations visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or free call 1800 623 946.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au
