Low-interest loans are to be made available to primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in Local Government Areas (LGAs) where the aftermath of the floods are facing a massive clean-up operation.
Welcomed by the Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Mark Ryan, the loans are to be provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Mr Ryan said the extension of the DRFA was to support those hardest hit by the floods so they could keep their economic activities afloat as the floodwaters receded.
He said DRFA low-interest loans, as well as freight subsidies for eligible primary producers, were available in 17 LGAs: Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.
Mr Ryan said DRFA loans for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations were available in those LGAs as well as Gladstone and Goondiwindi.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Bridget McKenzie said the DRFA assistance was also being extended to Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council to help with clean-up and repair efforts, as well as personal hardship assistance extended to flood-affected communities in Redlands and the Scenic Rim.
“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, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in Queensland,” Senator McKenzie said.
“In addition, 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,” she said.
Further information on assistance available to primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations can be accessed at this PS News link.
