Rates relief is being offered for hundreds of flood-impacted residents and businesses as part of council’s flood assistance package.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said under the relief program, ratepayers impacted by flooding will be provided with a $250 concession off their next rates bill.
“Residents and businesses who have been impacted by flood inundation resulting from the severe weather event in February will receive a $250 rates concession, pay off rates over a longer period of time, have discounts granted and interest waived on arrears,” Mayor Harding said.
“Council has provided assistance to the community during, and in the immediate clean-up after the event, facilitating access to evacuation centres, flood clean-up, additional waste collection and disposal services as well as emergency repair works to roads and community facilities.
“Council has given consideration to what additional financial assistance we can provide to aid the recovery and these measures are aimed to relieve hardship for those in the community who are doing it tough after the flood.”
Council will grant the one-time $250 general rate concession to be applied to the April to June 2022 rates notice for ratepayers where a structure located on their property has been impacted by the 2022 floods.
Residents and business who have been impacted by flood inundation and have not received the concession on their April rates notice, or are seeking to access payment arrangements, are asked to contact council on (07) 3810 6666 to make an application.
There were 836 ratepayers who were financially impacted by COVID-19 in the 2020-2021 financial year, who had sought help from council and this package would offer similar relief arrangements.
“Council was able to assist those ratepayers through its rates relief program and this flood relief package will be offered for ratepayers whose land was inundated or partially inundated,” Mayor Harding said.
“A range of council’s planning, building, plumbing and drainage fees are proposed to be waived or discounted where required for the rebuild or repair of an eligible flood affected property.
“Fees will be discounted by 50 per cent for animal impoundments, where the impounding has occurred as a result of the flood.
“There are between 600 to 1000 properties potentially impacted by the 2022 floods that may be eligible for these concessions and this flood assistance package will compliment assistance offered by other levels of government as well as the numerous charity organisations working with the community.”
Personal Hardship Grants are available through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for eligible flood-affected residents in Ipswich.
- Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grant
- Essential Household Contents Grant
- Structural Assistance Grant
- Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant
Part of a sports club or organisation? The Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program supports not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations with funding to re-establish facilities and activities after extreme natural events.
Funding of up to $20,000 may be available for eligible sport and active recreation organisations located in areas declared under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
For more information, visit www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disaster-recovery
If you have been impacted by the flood or have been helping others and need emotional support, it can be accessed through Lifeline’s crisis support by calling 13 11 14.
The Ipswich Flood Recovery information webpage can be accessed at Ipswich.qld.gov.au/floodrecovery
A range of support and information is also available for Ipswich businesses impacted by recent rainfall and floods.
Visit Business Ipswich for information to help you get back on your feet.
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Council has partnered with GIVIT to manage all offers of donated goods and services, including corporate offers of assistance, after disasters. To see what is needed or to donate, please visit GIVIT.org.au and look for the Storms and Flooding Appeal.
Members of the public can donate through www.givit.org.au/storms-and-flooding with 100 per cent of donated funds received by GIVIT going to affected communities.