{"id":271905,"date":"2020-08-13T14:16:13","date_gmt":"2020-08-13T04:16:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=271905"},"modified":"2020-09-17T15:51:19","modified_gmt":"2020-09-17T05:51:19","slug":"councils-eligible-for-bushfire-relief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/08\/13\/councils-eligible-for-bushfire-relief\/","title":{"rendered":"Councils Eligible For Bushfire Relief"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

August 13, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Council and State agencies in the Gympie, Toowoomba and Somerset local government areas can now apply for up to $5 million in joint State \/ Federal bushfire relief.<\/p>\n

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is administering the $36.8 million Local Economic Recovery Fund through Category D of Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.<\/p>\n

Thirteen local government areas are eligible to apply: Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Mareeba, Noosa, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis joint funding is for projects that support local and regional recovery, with funding allocated based on community needs,\u201d Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat could be economic or social, in relation to the rebuilding of infrastructure, or to do with the natural environment.<\/p>\n

\u201cLocal councils will have a key role in putting the right projects forward and I encourage communities to engage with their local council on recovery priorities.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick said the Local Economic Recovery Fund would prove crucial in helping Queensland bounce back from one of its toughest periods.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe crippling economic effects we\u2019re now seeing as a result of COVID-19 have only added more stress to parts of our State that were already pushed to the limits,\u201d Mr Dick said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBattling severe bushfires in 2019, and drought for an extended period before that, these affected regions were hurting long before the current pandemic arrived.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery project backed through this fund will help Queensland businesses, workers and families.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo whether an eligible council or State agency is looking to build or strengthen infrastructure, deliver local support services or host community activities and events, I encourage them to submit an expression of interest.\u201d<\/p>\n