Flood Recovery Support

February, March and May 2022 Severe storm event – flood impacts online photo and video uploading app

Council has set up an online facility to efficiently gather photos, videos and other information digitally from our recent flood events. This information is vital for Council to understand the impacts of the flood on our community, property and infrastructure so we can better manage the recovery from the event and actively work towards putting strategies in place to reduce the impacts in future events.

We encourage you to upload information from your own experiences and circulate this app to your family, friends or any other interested parties.

The online app is called the LVRC Flood Impact Assessment and Photo Portal. It will assist you in providing flood-photos from your property to Council and should work on both your mobile device or computer. Please use the comments box for any additional feedback or issues.

To use the app, click on the link, locate your property or area of interest and click on it to drop a marker, and simply upload your photos and videos. You can also provide any other information you choose on the flood impact.

For multiple locations of interest, simply start a new session for each location using the “start a new survey” button.

Recovery Hubs in Laidley and Gatton

Council welcomes the recovery support of the Department of Communities and other agencies who are operating Recovery Hubs in Laidley and Gatton.

The Hubs are designed to help residents navigate the roller coaster that is recovery and help assist residents to access emotional support, financial assistance, housing support, information on clean up and recovery as well as referrals to non-government organisations and local services.

• The Laidley Recovery Hub will operate 10am-2pm daily, at the Laidley Community Centre, 13 Mary Street.
• The Gatton Recovery Hub will operate from 10am-2pm daily, at the Lockyer Community Centre, 14 Crescent Street Gatton.

Recovering from a natural disaster is a lengthy and tiring process, and Council urges any residents requiring financial or emotional support to visit the Recovery Hubs while they are open.

For more information, contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Resilient Homes Fund

Queensland homeowners who experienced damage to their residential property because of flooding in 2021–22 can now register their interest for the Australian and Queensland Governments $741 million scheme aimed at improving food resilience.

The Resilient Homes Fund was developed following the 2021–22 disaster season and applies to directly flood-affected residential properties within 37 local government areas activated for Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for the following events:

• central, southern, and western Queensland rainfall and flooding – 10 November to 3 December 2021
• ex-tropical cyclone Seth – 29 December 2021 to 10 January 2022
• south-east Queensland rainfall and flooding – 22 February to 7 March.

Funding will be used to repair, retrofit, raise or buy-back eligible properties.

To register your interest, visit https://yoursayhpw.engagementhq.com/resilient-homes-fund

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements Funding Assistance

Funding for individuals, not-for-profit organisations and businesses

** IMPORTANT NOTICE: The information below relates to the February-March 2022 event. Council will continue to update with information for the May 2022 event once available.**

As of Monday 28 February 2022, 17 councils were activated for joint state and commonwealth disaster recovery funding in response to the unfolding events. Flood affected councils in south-east Queensland were eligible for special disaster funding.

The local government areas activated for Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) assistance for the February-March event include: Lockyer Valley, Somerset, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, South Burnett, Southern Downs and Sunshine Coast.

Council will provide an update on financial assistance arrangements for the May 2022 event when available.

There are a number of relief and recovery programs under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and the Queensland Government for individuals, not-for-profit organisations, small business and primary producers in affected areas.

These funding programs are administered by other state agencies.

Links are provided by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) via their Funding Programs webpage and on the Queensland Government Community Support webpage.

For more information contact Queensland Reconstruction Authority directly.

Phone: 1800 110 841 (Call centre)
International callers please dial +617 3328 4811 (+10 hours UTC)

Email:info.qra@qra.qld.gov.au

Postal address:
Queensland Reconstruction Authority
PO Box 15428
City East QLD 4002

Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants

Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants from Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority are available to assist directly impacted small businesses, primary producers and non-profits with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement. Applications close 5 September 2022.

• Primary Producer
• Small Business
• Non-profit Organisation
• Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program

Disaster Assistance Loan

Disaster Assistance Loans from Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority are available to assist primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations with re-establishing normal operations. Applications close 31 December 2023.

• Primary Producer
• Small Business
• Non-profit Organisation

Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan

Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans from Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority are available to assist primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations with essential working capital for expenses. Applications close 31 December 2023.

• Primary Producer
• Small Business
• Non-profit Organisation

For advice primary producers in the Lockyer Valley Local Government Area can contact Clinton McGrath from DAF (P: 0428 102 319 // E: clinton.mcgrath@daf.qld.gov.au)

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

Lump sum available for individuals

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a lump sum payment of:

• $1000 for eligible adults
• $400 for each eligible child under the age of 16.

You can claim this payment if you’ve been seriously affected as a direct result of the floods. For example:

• your home has been severely damaged or destroyed
• you’ve been seriously injured.

You can claim Disaster Recovery Allowance for up to 13 weeks, starting from the date you lost income.

Visit the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment webpage for more information.

Community Recovery Information and Support Services

The Queensland Government Community Recovery, Community Support Services work with a wide range of organisations to help minimise the impact of disasters and ensure the recovery of affected communities.

If you need assistance or support for you and your family, please use this brochure for information and contact details for key community services available in your local area.

These include but are not limited to;

• Local Support and Emergency Relief
• Emergency Accommodation
• Mental Health
• Employment/Income
• Material Goods and Food Relief

Support is available at local community centres.

• Lockyer Community Centre
• Laidley Community Centre

Queensland Government Community Recovery Grants

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme grants have been activated for people experiencing hardship as a result of the flooding event:

• Essential Household Contents Grant* – one-off payment as a contribution towards replacing or repairing essential household contents. Up to $1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families. People who have applied for the grant will be contacted by the department to organise appointments or visits or can call the Community Recovery Hotline to organise an appointment.
• Structural Assistance Grant* – one-off payment as a contribution towards repairs to your home (owner/occupied households) to make it secure and safe. Up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples/families. People who have applied for the grant will be contacted by the department to organise appointments or visits or can call the Community Recovery Hotline to organise an appointment.
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme * – a grant to help owner/occupied households reconnect essential services that were damaged by a disaster. Up to $200 towards a safety inspection for each essential service needing reconnection (electricity, gas, water and sewerage or septic system) and up to $4,200 towards repair work to enable essential services to be reconnected (for example, electrical rewiring).

* These grants are subject to an Income Test - weekly income must be less than: individual: $988 ($51,398 per year), couple: $1,367 ($71,061 per year), sole parent, one child: $1,368 ($71,110 per year), couple, one child: $1,694 ($88,111 per year). For each additional child add a further $327 per week; for each dependent adult add $378 per week.

How to apply

• Apply online via the Community Recovery Portal or
• Call 1800 173 349

To apply for grants visit www.communityrecovery.qld.gov.au, call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349, or for further assistance visit a Community Recovery Hub. For more information on grants and activated areas visit www.qld.gov.au/SEQrecoverygrants

If applying online, enter your driver licence and Medicare card details exactly as they appear on your cards i.e. use your full name and all numbers.

The Australian Government's Services Australia will be providing in-person in the Lockyer Valley at both the Recovery Hubs and with a Mobile Service Centre.

Emergency Funding Grants for Not-for-profit Sporting Clubs

Not for profit sporting clubs may be eligible for emergency funding grants of up to $20,000 through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements to assist with clean-up costs and repairing or replacing flood damaged equipment. Applications can be made at: www.qra.qld.gov.au.

Sporting clubs may also be eligible for state grant funding of up to $5,000 to assist with repairs to equipment, floors and walls, replacing lost stock, as well as cleaning costs applications can be made at the Level One Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program website www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disaster-recovery

Australian Red Cross Relief Grants

$500 cash assistance for people who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of flood impact to their primary place of residence. This grant aims to help people who can’t return home with basic, urgent needs, such as food, clothes, bedding or personal items. One grant is available per household.

Who is eligible:

• Homeowners whose primary place of residence was impacted, people renting homes that were impacted, and people living in non-permanent structures such as caravans or mobile homes that were impacted in the floods.
• Your primary place of residence must be in a postcode that has been declared a disaster area by Government for these floods.
• Must be experiencing financial hardship due to the impact of the floods on your home.

For more information visit: Grants for people affected by the NSW and Qld 2022 floods | Australian Red Cross

Donations

Please do not send unwanted donated goods into the disaster affected area instead check GIVIT’s website www.givit.org.au over the coming days and weeks to see exactly what is needed.

Southern Downs Community Flood & Drought Support Grants

Lump sum payments available for Individuals, Families and Businesses

The Southern Downs Community Flood & Drought Support Grants are funded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disabilities Services; in support of those who have been affected by disasters; to assist in the recovery of affected communities. Each individual, family or business/entity may reapply for this funding, noting that preference will be given to first time applicants.

The Southern Downs Community Flood & Drought Support Grants is a lump sum payment of:

• $1000 per individual
• $2000 per family
• $2000 per small business or entity

Where do you have to work or reside to be eligible?

• Maranoa LGA
• Murweh LGA
• Lockyer Valley LGA
• Toowoomba LGA
• Southern Downs LGA

Who is eligible?

• Individuals or families who have been impacted by drought and who require assistance with the cost-of-living pressures
• Non-farming small business operators
• Other entities such as schools and Parent & Citizen Associations.
• Visit the Lifeline - Southern Downs Community Flood & Drought Support Grants webpage for more detailed information and contact details.

Natural Disaster Impact Survey

Primary producers impacted by the severe weather event now have access to Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) online Natural Disaster Impact Survey tool.

Simply tell DAF about damage to your infrastructure, livestock or crops – and upload a photo or two.

The survey has been developed with industry and will help assess the level of assistance required to support timely community recovery.

This complements the work of DAF’s on-ground teams and should speed up the assessment process.

The survey can be accessed via https://arcg.is/1j5Ge8.

Primary producers can also report damage to the DAF customer service centre on 13 25 23.

Natural Disaster Business Survey

The Queensland Government is connecting with business owners impacted by the recent natural disaster to identify what is needed most to help during this challenging time.

The Department of Employment, Small Business and Training is collecting data about your business following the recent flooding event. This data will help us understand the impact on affected businesses and what assistance is required.

Red Cross Wellbeing Webinars

Recovering from a disaster can be a long and challenging journey, including for those who support impacted people through their work. This one-hour webinar is an opportunity to lay down your tools, reflect on how you're going, and learn practical tips to prioritize your wellbeing while working in the complex, busy and challenging recovery environment.

This webinar is for anyone involved in disaster recovery, including staff and volunteers from government, service providers, community organisations, disaster management agencies and others.

To register, please go to https://ipswichcommunityservices.groupsite.com/log...

Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF)

$30 million to help community groups hit by flooding

A new super round of Queensland’s largest one-off funding grants has been announced to support community groups impacted by the recent natural disasters thanks to changes made to the Gambling Community Benefit Fund (GCBF).

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said $30 million has been set aside for the next round of the GCBF to help local community groups recover from the recent flooding events.

Any community group that has been impacted by a natural disaster in the last two years can apply for a grant of up to $100,000.

Applications from community groups for other non-recovery related projects are still welcome in this new round, however the funding for projects not linked to a natural disaster will be limited to the standard grant amount of up to $35,000.

Those groups that have applied in the Super Round and have been impacted by a natural disaster should consider their circumstances and determine whether moving their application into the new Disaster Recovery Round is more appropriate for them.

The Disaster Recovery Round will open on 16 May 2022 and close on 15 July 2022, more information about the Disaster Recovery Round will be available on the GCBF website in the coming weeks.