The past week has certainly challenged the region with the massive rain bomb seeing some areas of the Sunshine Coast have rivers peak at levels not seen in decades. I understand that a lot of people will only be just beginning to assess the damage and it will take time to recover. I will be out in the community in the coming weeks visiting businesses and assisting where I can.
I have been in touch with council during this time to keep abreast of the disaster as it emerged on the Sunshine Coast. Parts of Maroochydore have been affected badly and I will be out in the community in the coming weeks visiting businesses, etc and assisting where I can.
For those that have been affected there is support available to you.
Commonwealth Financial Support
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced today that the Commonwealth Financial Support has been extended beyond the North Burnett and Gympie Local Government Areas (LGAs). From tomorrow residents of the Sunshine Coast can apply for the 100% Federally Funded Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and, as well as the Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA).
The AGDRP is one-off, non-means tested payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child for those who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or serious injury. For more information CLICK HERE.
The DRA assists employees, small business persons and farmers who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster. You might be eligible for a maximum of 13 weeks payment from the date you have or will have a loss of income as a direct result of a disaster. The DRA is taxable. For more information CLICK HERE.
State Financial Support
There are also other state and federally funded grants, but they are currently only available to North Burnett and Gympie Local Government Areas (LGAs). I am anticipating that these grants will be extended to further LGAs very soon. Please CLICK HERE to monitor for updates.
National Australia Bank (NAB) has also advised my office of their disaster relief package for their customers affected by the flooding in Queensland, including immediate access for their customers to $1,000 grants to help cover costs such as temporary accommodation, food and clothing (eligibility criteria apply). NAB businesses can also access $1,000 grants to help restart or reopen and recover the cost of damaged property, equipment, fencing etc. They advise they are able to provide flood affected victims with financial relief including reducing or suspending home and personal loan repayments, deferring business loan payments, providing concessional loans to customers and more. Please refer to the media release linked here for full details.
RACQ have advised that they are ready to take insurance claims and already responding to claims received. More than 3,600 claims have already been received so far, with most claims received being for homes. They are already undertaking ‘make safes’ for roofs and Assessors are on the ground and assessing where it is safe to do so. RACQ claims can be made online or by calling 137 202, they have increased resources in their contact centres to assist with the claims process.
On the weekend the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) declared an Insurance Catastrophe for Southeast Queensland. This catastrophe is for those in Southeast Queensland impacted by severe weather and flooding that has occurred since 21 February. The ICA’s Catastrophe declaration serves to escalate and prioritise the insurance industry’s response for affected policyholders. To read their release CLICK HERE.
For information regarding what to do when you return to your property after flood please CLICK HERE.
We look to be through the worst of it, with minimal rain forecast over the next week. My thoughts this week will be with Brisbane and the Gold Coast as they have a dangerous few days ahead of them, as the weather then passes over to our neighbours in New South Wales.
Lastly, my prayers are with the families that have lost loved ones during this time. My heartfelt condolences are passed onto them and I can’t even imagine how they are feeling at the moment.
If there is anyway I can assist during this difficult time please contact me.
