Supporting flooded small businesses, primary producers and additional councils

Low interest loans are now available for Queensland primary producers and small businesses in local government areas facing a massive clean-up operation in the aftermath of the flooding in Southern Queensland.

The assistance is available through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

DRFA low interest loans of up to $250,000 as well as freight subsidies of up to $5,000 for eligible primary producers are available in 11 LGAs: Bundaberg, Gympie, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay, North Burnett, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs.

DRFA low interest loans of up to $250,000 are also available for small businesses in Gympie, Lockyer Valley, Southern Downs, Somerset and Western Downs.

DRFA assistance has also been extended to the Fraser Coast, Gympie, Gladstone, North Burnett and South Burnett Regional Councils to help them with repair efforts.

Bundaberg, Livingstone, Rockhampton and Western Downs Regional Councils will also receive assistance with their repair efforts, as well as their counter disaster operation costs.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said the funding was part of the Australian and Queensland Governments’ ongoing commitment to supporting Queenslanders along the road to recovery after months of rain and flooding.

“The severe weather and seemingly unending rainfall that hovered over Southern Queensland during May flooded several communities, many of which had already been affected by previous flooding events since the start of the year,” Mr Ryan said.

“Low interest loans under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements will provide concessional loans up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 to help kick-start the recovery of impacted primary producers and small businesses.

“Primary producers can also access freight subsidies of up to $5,000 for the movement of stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water, building and fencing materials.

“In addition, the councils who have been included in this extension can rest assured that their costs associated with counter-disaster operations and the repair of their essential public assets damaged by the flooding, such as local roads, will be covered under the DRFA.

“The Australian and Queensland Governments will continue to work closely with local councils to support their ongoing recovery efforts and identify where further assistance can be provided to ensure all impacted communities have the best possible support.”

For more information on assistance available to primary producers, 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.

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Source: Queensland Government