New disaster recovery payments for Gold Coasters with serious property damage

The Federal Government is dishing out $1000 funding payments for Gold Coasters impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred - and predicts similar events more often. SEE HOW TO GET IT

The Federal Government is dishing out funding payments for Gold Coasters impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred as the city officially moves into a recovery phase.

Gold Coast-based Senator Murray Watt unveiled the funding packages when he met Mayor Tom Tate at the Gold Coast disaster and emergency centre after 11am on Wednesday.

The $1000 grants per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child payments are for serious damage to properties or injuries. This is separate to the disaster recovery allowance which provides up to 13 weeks pay for people unable to work and personal hardship grants for region,

From 2pm, the $1000 and $400 Australian Disaster Recovery payments would be available to apply for. Details are available on the MyGov website.

“It’s for people who have suffered serious damage to their homes or serious injuries as a director result of ex- Tropical Cyclone Alfred. We are not talking about a bit of water on your front lawn, it’s where you have had some damage to your home,” Senator Watt said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Coast-based Senator Murray Watt talking about the impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Asked if it was likely to the Gold Coast would get more cyclones, Mr Watt whose previous portfolio was Disaster Management, said climate change would see more intense and frequent weather events “in places we haven’t traditionally seen them”.

Mr Tate revealed post-recovery the City would look at areas to improve resilience, like removing trees near power lines and not planning developments in vulnerable areas

“There were 800 trees that have come down. We are prioritising the trees that were keeping electricity away,” he said.

Mr Tate said his helicopter trip across the city had given him more knowledge of flooded areas including golf courses.

“The photos showed we shouldn’t be building there,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Coast-based Senator Murray Watt at the Disaster and Emergency Centre looking at the impact from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The Mayor backed up his forecast that beaches would be open for the April school holidays, saying as a civil engineer he had more knowledge than others to make such a prediction.

He said the southern beaches from Burleigh to the border should be accessible by Thursday for people to walk on. About 80 per cent of beaches would be ready by Easter, he added.

The Mayor announced there would be free access to the City’s aquatic centres until close of business on Friday.

“We know that being without power can be difficult, and by offering free admission to our aquatic centres we aim to relieve some of that stress,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and Coast-based Senator Murray Watt with acting Local Disaster and Recovery co-ordinator Cath Drinkwater and Acting CEO Alisha Swain looking at impact of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

In key updates the City says:

* a flood warning for the Nerang and Coomera rivers is current. These warnings will continue to be reviewed and updated.

* river and creek levels are expected to continue easing with no further flooding expected.

* 37 roads are still closed due to floodwaters, debris or fallen powerlines.

* the weather forecast is for light showers in the range of 0-5mm of rainfall.

* at least 26,388 properties remain without power down from 58,000 on Monday afternoon.

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