{"id":370215,"date":"2026-03-16T15:38:50","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T05:38:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=370215"},"modified":"2026-03-17T00:46:15","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:46:15","slug":"disaster-help-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/03\/16\/disaster-help-available\/","title":{"rendered":"Disaster Help Available"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Disaster assistance has been activated for primary producers in the South Burnett affected by last week’s heavy rain
(Photo: Kathy Duff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 16, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Disaster assistance has been activated for primary producers in the South Burnett, North Burnett and Gympie regions following last week\u2019s heavy rain and flash floods.<\/p>\n

Primary producers in the local government areas of South Burnett, North Burnett and Gympie can now access grants of up to $75,000, concessional loans of up to $2 million and freight subsidies of up to $5000.<\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said many producers were working through stress, loss and disruption.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis assistance won\u2019t erase the hardship but it will help ease the path to recovery,” Mr Frecklington said.<\/p>\n

Funding can be used for a wide range of recovery and operational needs, including clean\u2011up, repairs, wages, rent or rates, replanting and essential supplies such as fuel or water.<\/p>\n

Primary Producer applications can be made <\/strong>online<\/strong><\/a> (producer tab)<\/p>\n

This assistance is being delivered under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.<\/p>\n

* * *<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Assistance under a different program has been activated for Western Downs residents and businesses.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Personal Hardship Assistance emergency payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more for essentials like food, clothing and medicine are available for eligible Western Downs Regional Council residents.<\/p>\n

Eligible flood-affected small businesses in the Western Downs can apply for Disaster Recovery Grants up to $25,000 and apply for loans up to $250,000 for recovery and restoring operations.<\/p>\n

Not-for-profit organisations and community groups in the Western Downs can also apply for disaster loans up to $100,000 to support immediate recovery and operational needs.<\/p>\n

Business applications can be made online<\/a><\/strong> (business tab)<\/p>\n

More information about Personal Hardship payments <\/strong>for Western Downs Regional Council residents is available on the State Government website<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

This assistance is also being delivered under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Disaster assistance has been activated for primary producers in the South Burnett, North Burnett and Gympie regions following last week\u2019s heavy rain and flash floods.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":370218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,36],"tags":[1134],"yoast_head":"\nDisaster Help Available - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Disaster assistance has been activated for primary producers in the South Burnett, North Burnett and Gympie regions following last week\u2019s heavy rain and flash floods.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/03\/16\/disaster-help-available\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Disaster Help Available - 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