Updates

Disaster assistance activated following damaging Gold Coast storms

Personal hardship payments are now available for eligible Gold Coast residents in response to the severe storms in South-East Queensland on Christmas night.

This includes grants of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five or more to cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing and medicine.

A range of other support measures are also available to eligible individuals to help make their home safe to live in, replace household contents, and reconnect essential services like electricity, water and sewerage.

People living in the following localities can access the assistance, made available through Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA):

Advancetown Alberton Arundel Ashmore Austinville Biggera Waters Bilinga Bonogin Burleigh Heads Burleigh Waters Carrara Cedar Creek Clagiraba Coolangatta Coombabah Coomera Currumbin Currumbin Valley Currumbin Waters

Elanora Gaven Gilston Guanaba Helensvale Hollywell Hope Island Kingsholme Labrador Lower Beechmont Luscombe Maudsland Merrimac Miami Molendinar Mount Nathan Mudgeeraba Natural Bridge Nerang

Neranwood Numinbah Valley Ormeau Ormeau Hills Oxenford Pacific Pines Palm Beach Paradise Point Parkwood Pimpama Reedy Creek Robina Runaway Bay Springbrook Tallebudgera Valley Tugun Upper Coomera Varsity Lakes Willow Vale Wongawallan Worongary

Funding is also being provided to the Gold Coast City Council for the reconstruction of essential public assets like roads and bridges, and for counter disaster operations including the removal of fallen trees and debris.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority will continue monitoring local recovery efforts and stands ready to activate further DRFA support where required.

Further information on disaster support available to eligible residents:

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme

• Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of five or more to support immediate essential needs such as food, clothing or medical supplies.
• Structural Assistance Grants – up to $50,000 for uninsured, income-tested owner-occupiers towards the repair or replacement of a disaster damaged dwelling damaged to return it to a safe and habitable condition.
• Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 for a family of five or more to assist with immediate needs following the loss of essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.

• Essential Household Contents Grants – up to $1,765 for individuals and up to $5,300 for couples or families to replace destroyed essential household contents such as bed linen and white goods.

 Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme

• Income-tested grants to help uninsured residents reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water. Up to $5,000 per household.

For more visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or www.disasterassist.gov.au.

Information in languages other than English

Information about natural disasters in Queensland and how to prepare for them is available in a range of languages. Translated fact sheets also include the types of financial assistance grants that may be available following a disaster. Access the resources.