October 7, 2022
Primary producers in disaster-affected regions of southern Queensland will soon have support from specialised resilience officers to help them recover from recent natural disasters and plan for future events.
The $2.5 million Industry Recovery and Resilience Officer (IRRO) program will support primary producers in 22 Council areas, including the South and North Burnett, Cherbourg, Gympie, Toowoomba, Somerset and Western Downs areas.
The extraordinary disaster assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Federal Emergency Management Minister Senator Murray Watt said to assist in short-term recovery and long-term resilience, four Industry Recovery and Resilience Officers would be employed through agricultural industry groups and Natural Resource Management groups for up to two years to work with industry, local governments and producers.
“The officers will provide support for primary producers for short, medium and longer-term recovery needs, including assistance to develop industry-specific, risk-based, on-farm disaster resilience and recovery plans,” Senator Watt said.
State Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said the program would initially focus on recovery activities.
“During the first six months, the IRROs will help primary producers access services, grants and other activities to assist their recovery, with the following 18 months devoted to assisting producers develop resilience plans for their business,” Mr Furner said.
“Central to their work will be helping primary producers to better determine the risk to the crops, infrastructure, and land from the potential impact of climate driven disasters and then develop appropriate risk mitigation strategies.”
