Grant assistance programs:  Essential flood recovery guide

Updated 10 February 2011.

Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal grants
The Chair of the committee responsible for distributing the Premiers Disaster Relief Appeal Funds announced on 20 January 2011 payments of $2,000 per adult and $1,000 per child. 

To be eligible:

• the damaged residence must have been your home that you lived in at the time of the flooding, regardless of whether you own or rent the property
• the damaged residence was flooded internally above the level of the floor in the living areas making your home uninhabitable
• you will find it hard to recover from the impact of the floods without financial assistance

You can apply by calling the Australian Government Emergency Information line on 180 22 66 or via the application forms on the website at www.qld.gov.au/floods.

More information can be found in the Government's Media Announcement, which you can read by clicking here.

Queensland Government support for small business and primary producers
Clean up Recovery Grants of up to $25,000 are available for small business and primary producers to pay for costs arising out of damage caused by the recent floods, not recoverable from insurance. Assistance is provided through an initial claim of up to $5,000 to assist with immediate recovery and a subsequent claim of up to $20,000 to repair direct flood damage. The maximum amount available to an eligible business entity under the scheme is $25,000. However if you are able to demonstrate that you operate more than one separate business that has been affected by the flooding , the grant is available for each eligible separate entity.

If you are unable to pay for clean up and restoration costs, you may be eligible for further assistance as a result of financial hardship. An application for additional assistance will need to be supported by a suitably qualified person. Grant Thornton can be of assistance with this.

On Friday 21 January, the Government announced that the clean up and recovery grants of up to $25,000 paid to primary producers and small businesses directly affected by the recent flooding will be exempt from tax.

For further information, visit www.business.qld.gov.au/risk-management/flood-business-assistance.html or the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA) or freecall 1800 623 946.

Concessional loans
Low interest rate loans of up to $250,000 may be available for eligible primary producers and small businesses located within a disaster-declared area whose buildings, plant and equipment or stock have been significantly damaged by an eligible natural disaster.  Eligibility for these concessional loans has now been extended to primary producers and small businesses affected by Cyclone Yasi. They can be obtained through Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority (QRAA). For more information, visit the QRAA website or freecall 1800 623 946.

Those primary producers and small businsses that have already established a loan of this nature stemming from a previous disaster, may apply for an extension of their existing concession.

If you are considering applying for such a loan and you require assistance, please contact your usual Grant Thornton advisor or email us at flood.assistance@au.gt.com. We can assist you with assessing the longer term impact of additional debt and with the completion of the application.

Existing QRAA loans
As an additional measure to flood affected primary producers and small business owners, QRAA will consider the deferral of repayments on existing loans for an agreed period.

Customers holding loans who have not utilised the two year interest only period can request this to assist with current recovery.

Additional support for primary producers
Freight subsidies are available for eligible primary producers located within a disaster-declared area under joint Commonwealth/State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). The Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI) will pay 50% of your freight cost, up to a maximum of $5,000 for the movement of various items, including foodstuffs, building/fencing materials, restocking of livestock, fodder, machinery/equipment and fuel.  For more information, visit the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation website or telephone 132 523.

Free and confidential counselling
The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) provides free and confidential counselling services to primary producers, fishers and small rural businesses who are suffering financial hardship and who have no alternative source of impartial assistance.  For more information, visit the Rural Financial Counselling Service website or telephone 1800 686 175.

This information is general in nature and we urge you to contact your usual Grant Thornton advisor or email our office at flood.assistance@au.gt.com should you have any questions.