Support package announced as PM visits flood ravaged north-west Queensland
As communities in northwest Queensland deal with the worse floods in decades, the prime minister has announced a $38 million support package as he visits regions devastated by cattle loss and damage.
The Albanese and Crisafulli governments have committed an additional $38 million towards large-scale disaster recovery efforts for flood affected communities across north-west Queensland.
Prime Minister Albanese made the announcement on Tuesday as he toured parts of Queensland hit by devastating flooding.
Targeted investments will be made across programs and projects that will assist the recovery of flood affected farmers and communities, including:
- $21.5 million for primary producer Disaster Recovery Grants up to $75,000.
- $11.5 million for critical repairs and increased flood resilience at Cloncurry Airport.
- $5 million increase to the previously announced emergency fodder package.
Albanese touched down in the outback city of Mount Isa this morning as he tours parts of Queensland hit by devastating flooding and was then travelling to Cloncurry, where he will meet with emergency services personnel and local mayor Greg Campbell.
The prime minister is visiting northwest Queensland communities devastated by livestock losses and infrastructure damage following the worst flooding to hit the region in decades.
Farmers in parts of the state have already reported about 16,500 dead or missing cattle after the Western River at Winton reached its major flood level, peaking at 4.05 metres overnight on Monday.
Parts of McKinlay Shire, east of Mount Isa, had seen worse flooding than in 2019, Mayor Janene Fegan said.
“A lot of locals are comparing it to the 1974 floods because of the length of time it has been going on,” she said.
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“There will be significant livestock losses and at the moment all access to roads to get out have been closed.”
Farmers faced a difficult wait to access flooded areas and count their lost cattle, Ms Fegan said.
“It’s a really difficult time mentally as well. It’s not an easy task,” she said.
“There have been a lot of choppers in the air to help move livestock to higher ground and feed them.where they can.”
As part of the support package announced today, primary producer recovery grants up to $75,000 are available to impacted farmers in Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton Shires, including upfront payments of $10,000.
Another $5 million investment will grow the region’s Coordinated Emergency Fodder Support Package to $7 million, helping primary producers keep their stock fed in Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton.
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This $38 million commitment from the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments is being made through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
“These disaster packages will make sure flood affected Queenslanders can recover and importantly build back stronger,” the Prime Minister said.
“We want all Australians to know that their government has their back.”
Flood damage to 794km of fencing and 1400km of private roads has also been reported to Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries.
Richmond Shire had not seen as big an impact as the 2019 flood but some farmers had been left with no source of income, Mayor John Wharton said.
“I’ve seen a lot of dead cattle. Some people have lost everything,” he said.
The state and federal government needed to launch a similar assistance package as in 2019 to avoid a mental health disaster and save lives, Mr Wharton said.
Heavy rain has eased across northwest Queensland leaving widespread minor to major flooding across western and northern areas, the Bureau of Meteorology observed.
“However, even in these places where the rain might start to ease off we will continue to see riverine flooding,” senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
“We may also see further rises with the arrival of upstream flows.”
North Queensland is also facing a potential tropical cyclone impact by the weekend.
A tropical low is set to form in the northern Coral Sea and is a 35 per cent chance of developing into a cyclone on Saturday, the bureau forecast.
