February 12, 2013
“What we want to get out is if you need help … it’s available.”
That’s the message from South Burnett Farm Financial Counsellor Alan Broome following today’s announcement that the South Burnett Regional Council area, and parts of the Toowoomba council area, have been upgraded to “Category C” disaster assistance.
They join Gympie and the North Burnett council areas at this higher level of help.
Grants (not loans) of up to $25,000 are now available to primary producers to assist them to fix direct damage.
Alan’s position with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry had been made redundant, but has been renewed until June in the wake of the floods so he can work one-on-one with flood-affected producers.
Already he’s fielding inquiries about Category C assistance and he expects this to grow as the word gets out that there is help available.
However, Alan’s also worried that there will also be some producers who may still be in shock and the thought of filling out another government form, even a simple one, may be just too much for them.
“Some of the damage I’ve seen shakes you to the core,” Alan said. “There’s a lot of emotion.”
There’s also the cumulative affect that this latest disaster is having on farmers who were only just starting to recover from the 2011 flooding.
That’s where Alan – and his colleague, QRAA Client Liaison Officer Bill Fletcher – can help.
“If you’re not sure that you qualify, if you need assistance with the forms, contact us and we will help you through it,” Alan said.
Initially, the South Burnett’s application for “Category C” assistance was knocked back by the Federal Government.
Stunned producer groups, agronomists, the South Burnett Regional Council, and DAFF staff rallied to prepare an appeal, which was lodged last Thursday.
As part of this process, stories and photographs were collected from producers and their families, many of whom had gone through it all before in 2011. Some admitted that they were at the point of giving up and walking away from their properties.
The good news that the appeal had been successful came through last night.
Anyone who needs more information about the assistance that is now available, should contact Alan directly on (07) 4160-0736 or 0427-600-717.
A series of information sessions about available assistance will also be held throughout the South Burnett from February 25 in conjunction with Centacare South Burnett and the Flood Recovery Team, but the venues are yet to be finalised.
A push will now start for the worst-affected parts of the South Burnett to be declared “Category D”, which covers “exceptional” damage.
“There are definitely some spots in the Burnett that need Category D,” Alan said.
* * *
South Burnett residents who feel they’re missing out on assistance because they’re not farmers, should be pleased with the news this afternoon that Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (ADGRP) funding has been approved for the South Burnett.
The South Burnett Regional Council made the announcement on Facebook this evening.
An official Ministerial announcement is expected tomorrow (Wednesday).
These payments will be available via Centrelink.
* * *
Related articles
