Hazardous and biohazardous material removal

About removal of hazardous and biohazardous material following an eligible disaster

There are several Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) assistance measures that can be used to support the clean-up of hazardous and biohazardous material, such as carcasses. The hazardous and biohazardous material must be directly related to the eligible disaster.

1. Clean-up of residential properties to make them safe and habitable

Category A Counter Disaster Operations (CDO)

The extraordinary costs associated with the clean-up of disaster related hazardous material, such as carcasses, may be claimed by the relevant local government and/or state agency where it is:

• within a residential property or directly affecting a resident’s ability to remain in or return to their home; and
• it is unsafe for the resident to remove the material themselves (if being removed from within the property); and
• the removal is required to make the property safe and habitable; and
• located within a local government area activated for CDO.

Eligible applicants: Local governments or state agencies impacted by the event within activated areas. 

More information: www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding/drfa

2. Clean-up and removal of carcasses from primary producer properties

Category B: Disaster Assistance (Primary Producer) Loans

Once activated this loan may assist primary producers with the clean-up and removal of carcasses from paddocks.

Eligible applicants: Primary producer properties within activated areas.

More information: Contact QRIDA 1800 623 946 or visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au

Category C recovery grants for primary producers

Once approved following an extraordinary event, these grants can assist primary producers in clean-up activities, hiring or leasing equipment or materials, removing and disposing of debris, damaged goods, materials including injured or dead livestock that pose a health risk to individuals and the community and to prevent the spread of disease and further loss of livestock.

The grants may also be used for repairing or replacing damaged fences, purchasing fodder or salvaging crops or feed for stock, repairing or reconditioning essential plant or equipment, or maintaining the health of livestock or poultry.

Eligible applicants: Primary producers with impacted properties within approved activated areas.

More information: www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding/drfa

Contact: QRIDA phone 1800 623 946 or visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au (External link)

3. Clean-up of carcasses from essential public assets

Category B Emergency Works on essential public assets allows local and state governments to undertake emergency works to enable assets to operate/be operated at an acceptable level of service to support the immediate recovery of a community.

Where disaster related hazardous material, such as carcasses, is impacting on eligible essential public assets (e.g. local government or state agency transport infrastructure, roads and associated road reserves, or stormwater infrastructure) the costs of clean-up may be claimed under Emergency Works (EW).

Eligible applicants: Local governments or state agencies impacted by the event located in the activated area

Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets (REPA) must be activated for the relevant local government area and the eligible disaster.

More information: www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding/drfa

4. Clean-up and removal of hazardous materials such as carcasses from recreational or community assets (e.g. parks)

Parks and recreational assets do not meet the DRFA definition of an eligible essential public asset.

However, in exceptional circumstances following an extraordinary event, the Australian Government may consider the clean-up or reconstruction of these assets as necessary to support community recovery from the event under Category C Community Recovery Fund and Category D Extraordinary Special Assistance.

More information: www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding/drfa

5. Clean-up of carcasses or hazardous material deposited in waterways or other natural assets

Natural assets do not meet the DRFA definition of an eligible essential public asset.

However:

• where the disaster related hazardous material can be demonstrated as impacting on an eligible essential public asset (e.g. impacting on bridge, floodway), the extraordinary cost of removal and disposal may be claimed under Emergency Works. Refer to Section 3 above. OR
• in exceptional circumstances following an extraordinary event, the Australian Government may consider the clean-up or reconstruction of natural assets as necessary to support community recovery from the event under Category D Extraordinary Special Assistance. Refer to 4 above.

A recent example of the Category D Extraordinary Special Assistance is Australian Government approval of $1 million to 11 impacted local governments in north western Queensland to assist in the recovery following the unprecedented flooding disaster in January and February 2019.

Last reviewed: February 2019.