More financial aid extended to cyclone impacted south-east Queenslanders

15 March 2025

Personal Hardship Assistance is now available to more south-east Queenslanders impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

After rain, winds and floodwaters battered the region, hardship support from the Australian and Queensland Governments has been extended to another six council areas.

Eligible residents can apply for a range of grants, made available under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This latest extension includes the LGAs of Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset, and Toowoomba, and additional areas on the Fraser Coast.

  • Brisbane: entire LGA.
  • Fraser Coast (new localities): Burrum Heads, Craignish, Dundowran, Dundowran Beach.
  • Ipswich: entire LGA.
  • Lockyer Valley: entire LGA.
  • Scenic Rim: Allenview, Barney View, Beechmont, Benobble, Biddaddaba, Binna Burra, Boyland, Bromelton, Canungra, Ferny Glen, Flying Fox, Illinbah, Mount Barney, Mount Lindesay, O'Reilly, Palen Creek, Rathdowney, Running Creek, Sarabah, Tamborine, Tamborine Mountain, Witheren, Wonglepong, Wyaralong.
  • Somerset: Brightview, Dundas, Glamorgan Vale, Royston.
  • Toowoomba: entire LGA.

Emergency hardship grants of $180 for individuals, up to $900 for a family of five or more are available to cover essential purchases including food, clothing and medicine.

Residents with damaged whitegoods and household contents like bed linen, and those who have lost power for five or more consecutive days, can also access the financial assistance.

Uninsured residents who sit under the income threshold may be entitled to grants for the reconnection of damaged services like power, water, gas and sewerage, or to carry out structural repairs on their home to make it safe and habitable.

This announcement extends the list of south-east Queensland communities activated for Personal Hardship Assistance in response to Tropical Cyclone Alfred to 11, including the entire LGAs of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Redland, and Toowoomba, and targeted localities in Fraser Coast, Scenic Rim, and Somerset.

Eligible residents can apply via www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the 24/7 Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

More than 25 Community Recovery Hubs have also been stood up between the Gold and Fraser Coasts to assist SEQ residents in need, including with grant applications.