NW Qld floods take toll on cattle and residents

Activation of the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme is urgently needed across a wider range of communities, with the impact of the North West floods beginning to bite, the Katter’s Australian Party Leader, and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said. 

“The joint contribution of $38 million announced by the Prime Minister and state government today will be welcomed by cattle and sheep producers as well as regional communities,”Mr Katter said.

“At the same time, I’ve had many families contact me seeking assistance to pay for unforeseen accommodation and food costs, while they are stranded away from home and their workplaces.

“Employees remain isolated from their hometowns and local businesses across the North West are being forced to close their doors due to staff being stranded elsewhere.

“I’m calling on the Disaster Recovery Minister Ann Leahy to work with our communities to make sure all bush people across our communities get the support they need,” Mr Katter said. 

Targeted investments will be made across programs and projects that will assist the recovery of flood affected farmers and communities, including:

• $21.5 million for primary producer Disaster Recovery Grants up to $75,000.
• $11.5 million for critical repairs and increased flood resilience at Cloncurry Airport.
• $5 million increase to the previously announced emergency fodder package.

Primary producer recovery grants up to $75,000 are available to impacted farmers in Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton Shires, including upfront payments of $10,000.

The Cloncurry Airport Recovery and Renewal Package will see $11.5 million of works rolled out to repair the damaged airstrip and increase the airport’s capacity to accommodate larger aircraft.

Another $5 million investment will grow the region’s Coordinated Emergency Fodder Support Package to $7 million, helping primary producers keep their stock fed in Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton.

Mr Katter also acknowledged that the Federal and State Government’s flood support for the agriculture sector will make a timely difference and kick start recovery.

“The support announced today will mean producers can get on with the job of assessing the damage and taking stock of livestock losses, and get cracking on the clean up,” Mr Katter said. 

“The funding announced for the Cloncurry Airport is also much needed and welcome, as this will reconnect Cloncurry to the rest of the state, allowing full size aircraft to once again land,” he said. 

As the current waters subside, Mr Katter said the true extent of the damage was becoming clearer.

“We know there’s much to be done, and that’s becoming clearer and clearer,” the KAP leader said. 

“We’ve got landholders getting up in choppers and assessing the damage, and there’s an area of the Gulf region where there’s significant livestock losses and fencing damage.

“Roads are starting to open again as waters recede, and this will hopefully see some families be able to return home and to work again. 

“We remain vigilant and conscious however that this is just the beginning of the wet season and it seems there is more rain coming.

“I remain in constant contact with emergency services, community leaders, relevant ministers, and industry groups such as AgForce to ensure the necessary assistance reaches those in need,” the Member for Traeger said.