(Photo: Peter Verbakel)
October 9, 2013
Farmers who were affected by the floods earlier this year must finalise their applications for natural disaster assistance by the end of next month.
This support applies to Category C and D assistance under the joint State and Commonwealth Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh said the eligibility period had been extended because producers and small businesses needed more time to find suitable contractors and finalise their applications.
“Applicants have until November 29, 2013, to lodge their applications with QRAA,” Mr McVeigh said.
“I encourage all producers who were directly affected by the floods to contact QRAA about their eligibility. If eligible, producers should submit their application before the 29th as there will not be any further extensions.”
Mr McVeigh said Queensland agribusinesses were strong and resilient but even the most resilient sometimes needed a helping hand to cope with circumstances outside their control.
“More than $63 million in financial assistance has been approved to go to flood-affected primary producers and small businesses under NDRRA since this assistance was activated in January 2013.”
To date, financial assistance approved under the NDRRA to primary producers and small businesses includes:
- Category B loans – $2.851 million
- Category C grants – $46.395 million
- Category D loans/grants – $12.837 million
Mr McVeigh said Category C assistance provided up to $25,000 to assist with costs for repairs as a result of direct flood damage.
“Category D assistance gives access to concessional loans of up to $650,000, including a 25 per cent grant component to a maximum of $50,000. Repayments and interest on these loans do not start until the third year of the loan at an interest rate of 1.7 per cent,” he said.
“The application period for the exceptional disaster concessional loan and grant scheme under Category D of the NDRRA was also extended to November 29, 2013 in all those areas that have been granted access to clean up and recovery grants under Category C.”
