Redlands Coast residents impacted by the recent severe weather event can now access State Government hardship assistance after Mayor Karen Williams requested it be activated for Redland City.
Cr Williams said she was pleased her request to the State Department of Communities for activation of Personal Hardship Financial Assistance grants and the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant had been accepted.
“Typically, Personal Hardship Financial Assistance is triggered when large areas of residential properties are impacted and left without power or clean water,” she said.
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“Fortunately, Redlands Coast did not experience this scale of hardship to the same extent as our neighbouring councils.
“However the whole of Redland City was impacted, with more than 3000 homes losing power, including on the islands, and three families having to be evacuated from their homes.
“Local SES units received 400 calls for assistance, with almost half relating to structural damage.
“We want all hardship cases to be assessed on their merits, which is why I requested the Department of Communities activate the hardship assistance for Redlands Coast residents who may need a helping hand.
“Their decision to grant this request means Redlands Coast residents who have been suffering personal hardship and distress from the weather event can now get financial support to get on with their clean up and recovery.”
Personal Hardship Financial Assistance grants can provide assistance to help meet immediate essential needs, for example:
- for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation
- where there has been the loss of one or more essential services for more than five days
- a contribution towards replacing or repairing essential household contents that have been lost or damaged
- a contribution towards repairs or replacement of a dwelling to return it to a safe, habitable and secure condition.
The Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant provides a financial contribution towards safety inspections of and repairs to residential essential services damaged by a disaster.
Other State Government assistance available for people within the Redland City Council area includes:
- Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans Scheme for Primary Producers
- Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans Scheme for Not-for-Profit Organisations.
There are eligibility criteria for all State Government grants.
For more information on the Personal Hardship Financial Assistance and Essential Services Safety and Reconnection grants, visit the Department of Communities website, www.qld.gov.au/SEQRecoveryGrants, or phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
For the Disaster Assistance Loans Scheme, visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or free call 1800 623 946.
Cr Williams said impacted residents could also apply for an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) through Centrelink, which provided support to people through the hard times in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster.
This is a non-means tested payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who has been adversely affected. Information on ADGRP eligibility and how to apply is available at www.servicesaustralia.gov.au
