Flood disaster recovery for Moreton Bay

The focus will today shift to disaster recovery across the worst affected areas in the City of Moreton Bay.

Council staff will work with State Government agencies to assess the damage as floodwater subsides and it becomes easier to access suburbs hit hard by yesterday’s deluge.

Caboolture received 224mm in 24 hours, Warner received 229mm and Draper’s Crossing received 304mm. There was limited rain overnight and a severe weather warning has been cancelled.

While impact assessments are still underway, the Federal and State Governments have begun delivering support in some of the worst-hit areas, with assistance for Moreton Bay Council and Bray Park residents activated this morning.

Mayor Peter Flannery visited affected areas including Bray Park, Samford and Centenary Lakes and today visited the Murrumba Downs SES with the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Queensland Premier Steven Miles, Morayfield MP and Queensland Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services and Minister for Corrective Services Mark Ryan, Pine Rivers MP and Minister for Fire and Disaster Recovery and Minister for Corrective Services Nikki Boyd , Senator Murray Watt, Senator for Queensland Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Minister for Emergency Management and QPS Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy.

Council will continue to work with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority for the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement to be enacted.

Eligible Bray Park residents can apply for Personal Hardship Assistance grants, with $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more available to cover the costs of essentials such as food, clothing and medicine.

A range of other support measures are also available through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to help eligible residents make their home safe and habitable, and to reconnect essential services.

Additionally, Moreton Bay Regional Council can access DRFA assistance for the reconstruction of damaged essential public assets like roads and bridges.

Funding is also being provided to council for counter disaster operations, including the removal of fallen trees and debris, and other measures aimed at community safety such as sandbagging.

Residents affected by yesterday’s flooding are being urged to phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to support immediate essential needs such as food, clothing or medical supplies.

• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $50,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling to return it to a safe and habitable condition.

• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.

• Essential Household Contents Grants – up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.

Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme

• Income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas, wateror sewerage. Up to $5,000 per household.

For more visit www.disasterassist.gov.au or www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Dozens of roads remain closed across the city. Visit the council’s disaster dashboard for details.