More bushfire support payments for Darling Downs residents

The Queensland Government has expanded the list of regions where residents will be eligible for cash payments if they are affected by recent bushfires.

The Queensland Government has expanded the list of regions where residents will be eligible for cash payments if they are affected by recent bushfires.

Personal Hardship Assistance payments of $180 for individuals and up to $900 for a family of five are now available for eligible people in the Southern Downs localities of Bony Mountain, Deuchar, Goomburra, Hendon, Karara, Leslie Dam, Massie, Montrose, Morgan Park, Mount Sturt, Passchendaele, Pikedale, Pratten, Rosehill, Rosenthal Heights, Swanfels, Thane, Toolburra, Upper Freestone, Upper Wheatvale and Willowvale.

The money can be used to cover the costs of essential items such as food, clothing and medicine.

Uninsured residents in these areas can also access income-tested grants up to $5000 per household through the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme to inspect and reconnect damaged services like electricity, gas and water.

DALVEEN, AUSTRALIA – NewsWIRE Photos NOVEMBER 01, 2023: Fire damage around Dalveen (near Warwick) Bushfires burning through the Southern Downs regional area near the Queensland to NSW border. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE / John Gass

Support was previously activated in the Southern Downs area for impacted residents in Ballandean, Cherry Gully, Dalveen, Elbow Valley, Girraween, Lyra, Silverwood, The Glen, Wallangarra, Wildash and Wyberba, along with a range of other Local Government Areas.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management and Queensland Senator Murray Watt said October’s fires had been devastating.

“As we get the upper hand in these battles, fire crews are finding that more and more areas have been badly affected,” he said.

Damaged property in the Wallangarra fire. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The losses are devastating for those affected and we are working hard to help people cover the urgent essentials such as food, clothing and medicine as they get back on their feet.”

Several homes were destroyed when large fires took hold in Dalveen and Wallangarra on October 26.

They took hold quickly forcing the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to issue a shelter-in-place alert.

Fire damage in Dalveen. Picture: Liam Kidston

Along with homes, dozens of outlying structures, sheds, vehicles and caravans were destroyed.

There were also multiple smaller fires burning around Warwick and along the New South Wales border.

To access the disaster payments visit: qld.gov.au/disasterhelp.

Originally published as More bushfire support payments for Darling Downs residents