Joint media release with the Hon Mick de Brenni MP
Queensland homeowners impacted by significant recent flooding events are encouraged to register for up to $100,000 financial assistance to upgrade their homes, with two weeks remaining to sign up.
The Resilient Homes Fund (RHF) supports eligible homeowners to retrofit or raise their homes so they can return to their normal lives sooner after floodwaters recede, with minimal disruption to family and finances.
The program is designed to support those hit hardest by the 2021-2022 South East Queensland floods, and is jointly funded by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The RHF can assist Queenslanders to upgrade their homes to make them more disaster resilient, including through the use of better materials.
Registrations of interest need to be lodged by midnight, 30 July, 2023. Once registered, the RHF team collates a range of information to assess each homeowner’s eligibility and tailors a report outlining resilience options.
For more information and to register, visit the Queensland Government's Resilient Homes Fund website.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt encouraged Queenslanders impacted by the 2021-22 floods to consider registering their interest for Resilient Homes Fund assistance.
“Every home and every property is different – there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ solution to defending against floods and storms which is why this program allows homeowners to make decisions about how best to invest in their home,” Minister Watt said.
“The Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments continues to work together to deliver a range of programs that will ensure Queenslanders are better prepared for future natural disasters, including better warning and alert systems, safer roads, flood levees and other disaster mitigation projects.
Queensland Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni said with almost 6400 registrations of interest to the Resilient Homes Fund program, the numbers really do demonstrate the massive scale and scope of this initiative.
“The RHF team has been prioritising homes most severely damaged as well as helping people with ongoing vulnerability – they are helping as many people as possible, as quickly as possible.”
“The Palaszczuk Government acknowledges that although the community is moving on, some Queenslanders are still very much in recovery mode.
“We want to assure anyone who is still suffering from this significant flood event, that help is still available and there is a range of assistance measures on offer to help families get back on their feet, including financial and emotional support.”
Further information:
- The Resilient Homes Fund was first established in May 2022 in the aftermath of one of the most devastating natural disasters in Queensland’s history. Four significant flooding events between November 2021 and May 2022 damaged over 7000 homes and 1000 commercial properties across 39 local government areas.
- To date there have been almost 6400 registrations of interest for the Resilient Homes Fund.
- More than 4950 homeowners are currently involved in various stages of the program.
- Almost 5800 floor level surveys have now been completed and there are another 500 currently in progress.
- Almost 4800 individual home assessments have been completed.
- Queenslanders doing it tough as a result of disasters can access a wide range of additional assistance measures. Please call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit the Queensland Government's disaster support and recovery website.
This release was originally published on the Ministers for the Department of Home Affairs' website