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Queenslanders whose homes have been damaged and livestock washed away will get access to a multimillion-dollar rescue package aimed at helping the state’s north rebuild after devastating floods.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese travelled to the outback town of Cloncurry to announce $38 million in financial support for flood-affected communities.
“These disaster packages will make sure flood-affected Queenslanders can recover and importantly build back stronger,” Albanese said in a statement.
The assistance package earmarks $21.5 million in grants to aid farmers grappling with the aftermath, offering up to $75,000 per individual. Of this amount, $10,000 is available for immediate relief.
It also includes $11.5 million for repairs and flood resilience upgrades to Cloncurry Airport, which has been severely damaged, limiting access by air.
State and federal governments have already announced $2 million to help farmers drop feed to livestock which have been isolated by floodwaters, and the latest package includes a $5 million boost to that program.
The package is being funded jointly by the federal and Queensland governments.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers, who travelled alongside Albanese, said the flood-hit areas were a critical part of the nation’s economy.
“We know the people, communities and industries of regional Queensland play a crucial role in our country and its economy, and we are here for them every step of the way,” he said.
About 16,500 cattle are dead or missing in floodwaters, according to farmers, sparking fears of major financial losses in the agriculture-heavy region.
Tragically, the flooding has resulted in the loss of life, with a man in his 70s discovered deceased in his vehicle amidst the rising waters.
Parts of McKinlay Shire, east of Mount Isa, had seen worse flooding than in 2019, mayor Janene Fegan said.
“A lot of locals are comparing it to the 1974 floods because of the length of time it has been going on,” she said.
“There will be significant livestock losses and, at the moment, all access to roads to get out have been closed.”
Farmers faced a difficult wait to access flooded areas and count their lost cattle, Fegan said.
“Mentally, it’s a challenging period,” she remarked. “It’s not an easy undertaking.”
Flood damage to about 800km of fencing and 1,400km of private roads has also been reported to Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries.
Meat and livestock analyst Simon Quilty said while the floods impacted livestock differently compared to the disaster of 2019, concerns remained of further losses.
“It’s very localised (and in) a breeding area … they could die due to hypothermia and could take losses to greater than 50,000,” he said.
Heavy rain has eased across northwest Queensland, leaving widespread minor to major flooding across western and northern areas, the Bureau of Meteorology observed.
“However, even in these places where the rain might start to ease off, we will continue to see riverine flooding,” senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.
North Queensland faces a potential tropical cyclone, with a tropical low set to form in the northern Coral Sea — at a 35 per cent chance of developing into a cyclone — on Saturday, the bureau forecast.
