15 November, 2023
Disaster Support For Bushfire Victims
Support for those impacted by bushfires has been extended to cover those in the northern parts of the Southern Downs Region.
Residents who have been affected by the recent bushfires will now have access to disaster support, with further assistance activated by the Federal and State Governments.
Personal Hardship Assistance, which provides $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five to cover the costs of essential items such as food, clothing and medicine, is now available for eligible people in the Southern Downs localities of Bony Mountain, Deuchar, Goomburra, Hendon, Karara, Leslie Dam, Massie, Montrose, Morgan Park, Mount Sturt, Passchendaele, Pikedale, Pratten, Rosehill, Rosenthal Heights, Swanfels, Thane, Toolburra, Upper Freestone, Upper Wheatvale and Willowvale.
Uninsured residents in these localities can also access income-tested grants up to $5,000 per household through the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme to inspect and reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water.
The assistance is jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Acting Premier Steven Miles said the fire season has already impacted many Queenslanders, their homes and businesses, with the Southern Downs area being particularly hard hit.
“I’ve seen first hand some of the destruction caused by these bushfires and I want to thank emergency services crews and their heroic efforts,” he said.
“Extending this assistance to eligible people in the impacted localities will help those who have lost so much.”
For more information on disaster assistance, eligibility and how to apply those impacted should visit www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp
