Spring and Summer weather has certainly been challenging for Queensland growers. Extreme weather events affected most corners of the state, whether it was through bushfire, cyclone, flooding, or storms.

To assist primary producers impacted by these events financial support has been made available.

Find out below if you are eligible. Each weather event is listed, along with impacted LGAs and the types of support available.

For information about all assistance types except Freight Subsidies, visit the QRIDA website. For information on Freight Subsidies, visit the Business Queensland website.

 

SEQ Severe Storms and Rainfall (24 Dec 2023 – 3 Jan 2024)

Eligible LGAs

  • City of Gold Coast Council
  • Logan City Council
  • Scenic Rim Council

Assistance Available

  • Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – up to $75,000 for clean-up and recovery
  • Disaster Assistance Loans – up to $250,000 to re-establish normal operations
  • Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan – up to $100,000 for capital to assist with expenses
  • Freight Subsidies – up to $5,000

 

Tropical Cyclone Jasper, associated rainfall and flooding (13-28 Dec 2023)

Eligible LGAs

  • Cairns Regional Council
  • Cassowary Coast Regional Council
  • Cook Shire Council
  • Douglas Shire Council
  • Hinchinbrook Shire Council
  • Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Mareeba Shire Council
  • Tablelands Regional Council
  • Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council
  • Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council

Assistance Available

  • Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – up to $75,000 for clean-up and recovery
  • Disaster Assistance Loans – up to $250,000 to re-establish normal operations
  • Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan – up to $100,000 for capital to assist with expenses
  • Freight Subsidies – up to $5,000

Northern Queensland Bushfires (18 Oct – 8 Dec 2023)

Eligible LGAs

  • Cook Shire Council
  • Mareeba Shire Council
  • Tablelands Regional Council

Assistance Available

  • Disaster Assistance Loans – up to $250,000 to re-establish normal operations
  • Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan – up to $100,000 for capital to assist with expenses
  • Freight Subsidies – up to $5,000

Southern Queensland Bushfires (8 Sep – 7 Nov 2023)

Eligible LGAs

  • Bundaberg Regional Council
  • Central Highlands Regional Council
  • Gladstone Regional Council
  • Maranoa Regional Council
  • North Burnett Regional Council
  • South Burtnett Regional Council
  • Southern Downs Regional Council
  • Toowoomba Regional Council
  • Western Downs Regional Council

Assistance Available

  • Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – up to $75,000 for clean-up and recovery
  • Disaster Assistance Loans – up to $250,000 to re-establish normal operations
  • Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan – up to $100,000 for capital to assist with expenses
  • Freight Subsidies – up to $5,000

Individual Disaster Stricken Property

If a primary producer is not in an area activated for Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements – but has suffered significant damage from a natural disaster – they are able to apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration. For more information, please visit the Business Queensland website.

Personal hardship financial assistance

A range of grants are available across disaster-impacted LGAs. These include:

  • Emergency Hardship Assistance
  • Essential Services Hardship Assistance
  • Essential Household Contents Grant
  • Essential Services Safety and Reconnection
  • Structural Assistance Grant

 

Please note that not all disaster-impacted LGAs may be eligible for this assistance, and available grant types may vary. 

For more information on the targeted localities and provisions of each of the above grants, please visit the Queensland Government website. 

 

 

Mental Health Support Available

You are not alone. Help is available from a range of services and resources.

 

 

DAF Agriculture Disaster Impact Survey

If you have experienced any damage or losses to your property, we encourage you to fill out the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (DAF) Agriculture Disaster Impact Survey, to help decision-makers in understanding the impacts.

DAF rely on data collected by industry and local government to activate disaster assistance. The information captured via this survey supports DAF in processing applications for assistance efficiently, to support recovery.

Please remember to: 

  • Take date-stamped photographs and include these in the Impact Survey
  • Select ‘Growcom’ as your industry group, when submitting your form to allow us to view your information and assist further.

DAF Agriculture Disaster Impact Survey

 

Key Contacts / Links