Financial support for Burke residents and disaster assistance for more Queensland regions

Personal hardship payments are now available to individuals and families in Burke Shire to cover the costs of essential items.

This comes after extreme monsoonal rainfall generated record flood levels in the region.

Evacuated residents in Burke Shire can now access up to $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five to cover the costs of essentials like medicine, food and clothing.

For information on Personal Hardship Assistance and the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme, please contact the Community Recovery Hotline 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies.

Disaster assistance has also been made available to a further six local government areas flooded across Northern and Central Queensland.

With rain and isolated thunderstorms continuing in parts of Queensland and ongoing flood waters causing road closures and distribution issues, the LGAs of Central Highlands, Hope Vale, Livingstone, McKinlay, Richmond and Torres Shire will receive support through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This funding will help councils cover the costs of clean up and repairs following the severe storms.

Across Northern and Central Queensland, 39 regional councils and shires are now eligible to receive DRFA assistance in response to this disaster event.