North-west Queensland flood recovery gets $38 million boost

North-west Queensland primary producers and the historic Cloncurry Airport will benefit from a $38 million disaster recovery package.

The Australian and Queensland Governments have made the assistance package available following devastating floods caused by a monsoonal trough that delivered record-breaking rain across the region.

Funded through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the assistance package will target large-scale disaster recovery efforts for flood affected communities.

Programs to assist the flood recovery of farmers include $21.5 million for primary producer Disaster Recovery Grants and a $5 million increase to a previously announced emergency fodder package.

Recovery grants up to $75,000, including upfront payments of $10,000, are available to impacted producers in the shires of Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton.

A $5 million uplift will take the region's Coordinated Emergency Fodder Support Package to $7 million, helping primary producers keep their stock fed throughout Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton.

There's also been an allocation of $11.5 million for critical repairs and improved flood resilience at Cloncurry Airport, which has a century of history connected to Qantas and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Under the Cloncurry Airport Recovery and Renewal Package, the airport’s badly damaged main runway will be repaired, and improvements to airport infrastructure will be made to accommodate larger aircraft.

These disaster packages are designed to boost recovery efforts for flood affected north-west Queenslanders and will help them build back stronger.

Primary producers can apply for Disaster Recovery Grants by visiting www.qrida.qld.gov.au or phoning 1800 623 946, and farmers needing fodder support should contact their local council.

For the latest Queensland Government disaster information, visit www.disaster.qld.gov.au.

Around the clock disaster support is also available to Queenslanders via the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.