Bluewater, Georgetown, Damper Creek and Rungoo added to federal disaster recovery payment list

More NQ and FNQ residents will now be eligible for the federal government’s $1000 grants almost a month after homes in the community were inundated. But there are still suburbs missing from the list.

Tuesday February 4. Heavy rain causes flooding in North Queensland. Bluewater residents Anthony Waugh, with daughter Nyah, 9, at the ground floor of their Forrestry Road home inundated by a fast rising Bluewater Creek. Picture: Evan Morgan

Bluewater residents will now be eligible for the federal government’s $1000 grants almost a month after homes in the community were inundated.

The federal government has expanded its Disaster Recovery Payment to cover Georgetown in Etheridge Shire, Damper Creek and Rungoo in Cassowary Coast and Bluewater.

Residents in Bluewater were issued an emergency alert on February 2, with people asked to “leave immediately” as a dangerous flood was incoming.

Bluewater residents also saw plenty of water come from Bluewater Creek that affected a few homes in the area. Pics Adam Head

The floodwaters rose extremely quickly and peoples homes were inundated with water.

The funding announcement comes as south east Queensland battles floods, power outages and cyclonic wind as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred makes its way across land.

The federal government has faced backlash since the major flooding event, in which flood water inundated homes across North Queensland, after not every suburb in the affected local government areas were covered.

Pimlico, which was one of the worst hit suburbs for flash flooding on the first day of the monsoonal rain, still is not covered by the federal government’s grants.

Government Services Minister Katy Gallagher said many Australians were facing the effects of significant weather events at the moment.

Kristy Waugh's backyard in Bluewater as the creek comes up. Sunday (Feb 2)

“While there is a current focus on ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, we know the recovery effort is ongoing in North Queensland and we are continuing to work hard to support these Queenslanders through a tough period,” she said.

“The impact of the recent flooding in Far North and North Queensland continues to be felt across the region and our government is continuing to support those impacted.”

Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister said people impacted in the North would not be forgotten.

“As the Queensland Government understands and makes more data available, we’ve been able to activate assistance for more communities,” she said.

“The AGDRP is one type of assistance out of many we’ve activated to support flood impacted residents. Depending on your circumstances you may be eligible for some payment types and not others.”

More information about who is eligible for grants and what funding is available is available on the Services Australia website. Claims for Bluewater residents will be open from 2pm on March 10.

Originally published as Bluewater, Georgetown, Damper Creek and Rungoo added to federal disaster recovery payment list