FARMERS impacted by Tropical Cyclone Ita will have access to financial support, including concessional loans and freight subsidies.
Category B disaster assistance is available in 16 shires under standard Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
The funding is available in the following shires: Burdekin, Cairns, Cassowary Coast, Cook, Douglas, Hinchinbrook, Hope Vale, Lockhart River, Mackay, Mareeba, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville, Whitsunday, Wujal Wujal and Yarrabah.
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh visited farmers in Bowen, Ingham and Hope Vale and said the arrangements would provide freight subsidies up to $5000 and access to concessional loans from QRAA up to $250,000 at an interest rate of 1.7 per cent.
“Freight subsidies are up to 50 per cent of the cost of transport of livestock, fodder or water for livestock and building or fencing equipment or machinery a direct result of the natural disaster,” Mr McVeigh said in a statement.
Concessional loans made under NDRRA are to help re-establish the primary production enterprise by covering costs including repairing or replacing damaged plant and equipment; repairing or replacing buildings; purchasing livestock to replace those lost in the disaster event and meeting carry-on requirements.
Mr McVeigh said Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officers continued to work with the state’s peak farming and fishing bodies to assess damage to local farms and fishing businesses in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Ita and monitor potential flood impacts on coastal farms.
Affected producers can contact QRAA on 1800 623 946 or visit www.qraa.qld.gov.au