Help for small businesses hit by floods

Picture courtesy of North Brisbane Photography

Low interest loans are now available for Queensland primary producers and small businesses in local government areas (LGAs) facing a massive clean-up after the recent flooding.

The assistance is made possible 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 $5000 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.

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

Kick-start

“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,” Minister for Fire and Emergency Services and State Member for Morayfield Mark 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.

Extension

“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."

For more information on assistance available to primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations visit 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 qra.qld.gov.au.