South Burnett Local Disaster Recovery Group Update

Burnett and Wide Bay Rainfall and Flooding December 2024

Natural disaster business survey 

The Queensland Government is connecting with business owners impacted by the recent Burnett and Wide Bay Rainfall and Flooding December 2024, to identify what is needed most to help during this challenging time. The Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business is collecting data about your business following the event. This data will help us understand the impact on affected businesses and what assistance is required. Any information you provide is confidential.

Complete the survey here

Primary producers impacted by recent intense rainfall and storm activity

The Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have been closely monitoring the weather events across the South Burnett region.

Primary producers impacted by these events are encouraged to report any damages or losses to your farm through the disaster impact survey. These survey reports help to determine the need for additional assistance to support the recovery needs of impacted communities. Please include date-stamped photographs to show the damage from this natural disaster event. Most phone cameras do this automatically.

If you have suffered significant damage to your farm from a natural disaster, you can apply for an individual disaster stricken property (IDSP) declaration 

This means you may be able to access:

• freight subsidies
• disaster assistance loans.

For more information visit https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/natural-disaster/prepare or contact the DPI general enquiry number 13 25 23.

Personal or Community Organisation Loss

To assist individual members or not-for-profit organisations within the community that may have been affected or suffered loss, it is requested that the following information is forwarded by email to info@sbrc.qld.gov.au.

• Resident or organisation name and preferred contact details
• Briefly state how you were impacted by the 9 December 2024 to 2 January 2025 rain event
• Do you have insurance coverage, have you contacted your insurance provider and if so are you able to a claim
• Please note any attempts to obtain or request of support via local channels or organisations

This information will be collected to support our advocacy for assistance through all levels of government or the insurance council.

Effective recovery after a disaster is vital to ensure the well being of individuals and our community. It is more than simply the replacement of what has been destroyed and the rehabilitation of those affected. It is a complex social and developmental process that involves all aspects of society working together to return the community to normality and to improve aspects beyond previous conditions by enhancing social infrastructure, natural and built environments, and the economy.

The complexity and timeframes of recovery demand sound planning, effective coordination and above all, community involvement. The Disaster Recovery Plan can be found in Section 7 of the Local Disaster Management Plan (PDF) and addressess these aspects and articulates how the South Burnett will undertake recovery operations after a disaster. In doing so this plan provides a framework for the management and coordination of recovery as well as guidance on the major considerations for recovery across the spectrum of Human/Social Recovery, Infrastructure Recovery, Economic Recovery and Environment Recovery.

Keep up-to-date with current events via the Disaster Dashboard.

 

An information kit has been compiled to assist residents find relevant support agencies.

Information Kit

• Council's Recovery Brochure (PDF)
• Agency Support Groups (PDF)
• Where do I get help in the South Burnett (PDF)
• Post Disaster Insurance Claims Process
• Hand-up - Information & Resources for Burnett Inland Communities (PDF)
• Drought Assistance (PDF)
• Community Services Brochure (PDF)

Alternately to receive a hard copy of the Information Kit, please contact Council’s Customer Service Centres on (07) 4189 9100.

“Community members are sometimes reluctant to ask for help, however, it is important that we do not underestimate the human, economic and emotional impacts on residents.  We want to ensure that members of our community who are in need of some form of support are not overlooked.”