Scenic Rim victims of flood gain Category C
RECOVERY grants of up to $25,000 are now available to flood-affected primary producers and small businesses in the Scenic Rim and parts of the Somerset Region.
The Scenic Rim Regional Council area and properties south of the D'Aguilar Highway in the Somerset that were initially deemed not deserving of funding, are now eligible to apply Category C assistance under the joint Federal and State Government-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
The announcement made yesterday came with a sigh of relief from flood-affected farmers, but some say it is still not enough.
Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann told The QT on Monday he was "bitterly disappointed" to hear his residents could not receive financial help from the Federal Government, despite sharing roads and fence lines with eligible farmers in the Lockyer Valley.
Category C grants provide for two tiers of assistance - an initial cash grant up to $5000 to allow immediate repair activities, and a subsequent grant requiring proof of expenditure for larger works.
But Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent said Category C funding was insufficient and called for top-level support: Category D.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said the process had been complicated by local government area boundaries.
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh said he would continue to negotiate with the Federal Government on a range of Category D measures for the worst hit areas.
Primary producers and small businesses are urged keep all receipts and invoices of expenditure and contact the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority on 1800 623 946 to discuss eligibility.
More information on assistance available in each affected local government area can be found at www.disasterassist.gov.au.
