Financial Assistance

 Financial Assistance For Businesses Affected By Recent Floods


Information provided by East Group Accountants

Assistance being offered by The Queensland and Australian Government to businesses affected by the floods include:

• An immediate grant of $5,000 is available to help businesses with immediate recovery.

• An additional grant of up to $20,000 is available to assist in repairing and replacing damaged buildings, equipment and stock.

• Low-interest loans of up to $250,000 are also available to help businesses fund repairs.

For further information visit the QRAA website or call 1800 623 946 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1800 623 946      end_of_the_skype_highlighting and for Dairy Farmers call the QDO Brisbane office on (07) 3236 2955 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (07) 3236 2955      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

• Freight subsidies of up to $5,000 per disaster event are available for eligible primary producers.  For more information, visit the Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries website or telephone 132 523.

• The Sport and Recreation Services Disaster Recovery Program is offering one-off funding of up to $5,000 for replacement of operational items and up to $20,000 to assist the repair of sport and recreation infrastructure damaged by flooding. For more information, visit the Department of Communities website.

• Farm Financial Counselling Service is a free and confidential service to help primary producers manage droughts, seasonal changes, national disasters, industry reform, low prices and changing rural credit policies. For further information call 13 25 23.

Financial assistance available to individuals and families includes:

• A one-off grant of $170 per person (capped at $850 for a family) is available to help people who have experienced personal hardship. This is not means tested.  For more information call 1800 173 349 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1800 173 349      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

• An essential household contents grant for contents that have been lost or damaged of $1705 per adult.

All applications will be assessed on a case by case basis. To apply call the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1800 173 349      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

• A Structural Assistance Grant is available for people whose house has been damaged by the floods and who do not have house insurance. This grant is a means tested and has other conditions. Applications will be assessed on a case by case basis. To apply call the Department of Communities on 1800 173 349 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              1800 173 349      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

• An Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child is available to eligible people, and is administered through Centrelink.

From the whole team at East Group Australia

Economic Perspective

Counting the cost

January 19, 2011

Australia's devastating floods will have at least four big economic effects.

Read Saul Eastlake's article in the SMH

(I'm always amazed how ecomomists can turn events into numbers!)

Masterclass cancelled

Thursday Masterclass for February cancelled

Due to the recent flooding and other weather events, we have been forced to cancel the first Thursday Masterclass for February (4th).  Stay tuned for details of the March masterclass.

Regards,

The BDAQ Team

BDAQ Executive

A MESSAGE FROM BDAQ EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Welcome to 2011. What a start to the year it has been for Queensland.

With most areas out of danger and flood waters receding at varying rates, we are now in the clean-up and rebuild mode from what has been described as possibly the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history.

This will be a long and sometimes difficult process. Politicians are not willing to put a dollar figure on the damage but all agree that it will be a lot of money.

President Greg Pershouse sent a message to members last week and offered support to any who have suffered. I want to reiterate that if you need any assistance whatsoever as a result of the flooding, please contact Greg or the office.

I also want to thank those who were concerned about the office when Strathpine made it to the news reports last week.

Although low parts of Strathpine, Petrie and Lawnton suffered some inundation and roads in and out were cut, the office is high enough and out of danger. Although most staff could not get to work on Wednesday and Kerrianne had water halfway up her driveway, all our homes and families are safe.

Members have enquired about how BDAQ can assist in the clean-up and repair program. We will be monitoring the situation and will be available to help where possible.

Our experience from past events including Cyclone Larry and the Victorian bushfires, is that our offers of organised and managed building design services even when offered as a free service have not been required.

Following Cyclone Larry and the Mackay and Townsville floods, we found that most of the work was repair or rebuild of existing and plans were not required. These events resulted in little work for local building designers as insurance companies managed most of what was required.
This current crisis, of course is much more widespread and we will be monitoring the situation but state vice-president, Arthur Martin, lives and works in Dalby and designs for most of western Queensland. He is in touch with some of the worst affected areas and advises:

"As far as work goes, the military forces have moved in on the Darling Downs and surrounding areas and have set up assessment camps. They have a fleet of Engineers and Technical people on the ground to sort things out. Everything, I mean everything is being directed through them. There may be something we can do later, but right now it would be wasting our time."

In the meantime, if any member is struggling with flooding, has flood related workflow, staff or equipment issues or has been impacted in any way, please contact us. BDAQ as a community is ready to assist in any way we can.

There are ample building and flood clean-up inspection and advice agencies already operating and BDAQ is not inclined add to the list but if branches and/or members want to get involved on a local level they should contact the relevant local authority to offer assistance.

Russell

BDAQ President

Letter from BDAQ President

14th January 2011

During this time of crisis in Queensland, I trust you, your family and your friends are safe and well.

For those of you who have suffered loss, our thoughts are with you. If you have lost property and have damaged businesses and homes, we are with you in spirit as you rebuild.

I was heartened by the number of emails and phone calls that we received here in Bundaberg frommembers around the State checking on our welfare, when our city was experiencing its flood emergency last week.

Should there be anything we can do to assist, please contact me at greg@designgp.com.au. or Head Office admin@bdaq.com.au

Regional communities throughout Central and South West Queensland have been inundated with flood waters during the past month, with many areas suffering inundation for a second time.

I watched in dismay the devastation of the flash flooding in Toowoomba and the resulting chaos and loss of life and property in the Lockyer Valley.

Brisbane and Ipswich are now confronted with the devastation encountered by our country members.

The ramifications of this disaster will be felt throughout the community for a very long time.

The effect on our businesses, farms, schools, roads and transport will be profound. Queenslanders are famous in the way we respond to adversity.

Let’s congratulate the magnificent effort of our Emergency Services personnel and the volunteer organisations that have combined to assist Queensland.

If you are not already volunteering, I would ask that you assist, where possible, in helping others in your area towards a speedy recovery, particularly fellow BDAQ members.

Greg Pershouse

PRESIDENT

To All BDAQ Members

Flood Triage

Archicentre launches triage service for flood victims

Archicentre launches triage service for flood victims « Selector Australia Blog

Flood Relief

Are there any BDAQ members who have been affected by the floods and need assistance?


Let's get our local members together to not only assist each other but the wider community in general.


For local assistance contact me on:
paul at soulspace dot net dot au
(I have disguised my email so I don't get spammed).


For wider assistance and volunteering, the Queensland Government has requested that volunteers register with www.emergencyvolunteering.com.au/ so that a co-ordinated volunteering approach can be made.


Now is the time when we as a community can really pull together to help those in need.


Paul Hindes
President BDAQ Sunshine Coast

QLD's Flooding

Queensland's Flooding

It is with great sadness that I witness the devastation caused by the floods in Queensland. Approximately 75% of the state has been declared a disaster zone. We have seen the floods first hit the mid-coast towns of Rockhampton, Emerald, Chinchila and Bundaberg, as well as the western ranges towns near Dalby and further west. More recently Gympie has been hit by flood waters. Now Toowoomba, Ipswich and Brisbane City have also now been inundated.


Premier Anna Bligh describes the situation as being in a war zone. The clean up needed over the next weeks and months will be "post war" in scale.


Out hearts go out to family and friends that have tragically lost loved ones. Property and possessions can be replaced. Our loved ones cannot.


It has been heartening to see how individuals and the wider communities have come together to help those in need. The clean up will require the continuation of this help from individuals and community groups.


The State Government has asked those interested in volunteering their time to help in the clean up to register with http://www.volunteeringqld.org.au/home/. to create an organised and effective volunteering effort.


For those wanting a positive note on the floods, Michael Matusik's (http://www.matusik.com.au/) comments below are worth considering:

Matusik Missive Extra – Mud and guts

12^th January 2011

The Queensland flood has sadly led to tragedy, with the loss of several lives and billions of dollars in property damage.  I debated with myself, especially given the awful events in Toowoomba, whether to comment, but too much of the coverage, especially concerning the economy, is overly negative.

These floods, catastrophic as they are, can ultimately have some positive results, setting up not only Queensland, but much of Australia, for an economic boom in the years to come.  This, perhaps, is the circuit breaker that has been missing - this year’s probable factor X and a key ingredient to restore long term confidence.  We have been waiting for a GFC-induced Armageddon, which hasn’t arrived; but instead of getting on with our lives, many of us still have our fists clenched ready to fight something, anything - even shadows.  But now a fight has arrived, and after it all settles down, the rebound is likely to be very strong.

The stoic nature of those directly involved heightens one’s pride is being Australian and is resonating around the country and overseas.  These images, which are being beamed around the globe, will have more impact than any artsy jingle or smart-arse tourism one liner.  Even the big-O’s recent visit cannot top this.  Mark my word, tourism down under will improve once this calms down; and not by those who want to gawk at the damage but because people travel to places with character.  This event, and the way those affected are handling it, reinforces our image overseas – tough, can-do, stoic, mateship and a land of extremes. 

Yes, the short-term economic negative impacts will be high but there is also a sliver lining.  Flood assistance is costly, but it is generally a one-off, upfront expense.  Whilst inflationary, the good news is that these floods are unlikely to influence the RBA’s thinking on interest rates. 

Global demand for coal remains strong, contract prices are on the rise and once the Queensland mines are pumped dry and the coal is loaded onto ships, it will be worth more, helping to offset any losses.  Similar factors are at play for the farming sector.  Yes the floods have destroyed crops, but also increased soil moisture for the future. 

To a large extent, the effect of the floods on the economy is a timing issue, slowing down growth now, but adding to it once rebuilding efforts are underway.

Sadly, it is breaking our hearts, but not our will.

Michael Matusik

michael@matusik.com.au

Flood Advice

Advice on what to do when returning to flood affected areas

QLD Government flood site


Brisbane Council Flood Advice


Building Services Authority Disaster Recovery


HIA guidance on returning to flood affected areas


QMBA guidlines on working on flood damaged premises


QMBA Homes owners advice for flood affected homes




Looking for a contractor in your area to assist with flood recovery:
http://www.bsadisasterrecovery.qld.gov.au/ContractorandSupplierRegister/Pages/Default.aspx

Location Map

BDAQ Sunshine Coast Meeting Location Map

WHEN: every 2nd Wednesday of the month.

WHERE: Pacific Paradise Bowls Club.
13 Menzies Drive, Pacific Paradise.

Meeting Commences 6.00 pm

No Charge to attend Meeting
(Tax deductible 2 Course meal available for $20)

Map Link