Road to recovery for Boyne Valley farmers
JACK Ryan may have lost everything in the floods, but not his determination.
The 71-year-old Builyan farmer is intent on recouping his losses through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement (NDRRA), but he doesn't know where to start.
"If I were to guess how much damage was done to my property, I'd say between $20,000-30,000," Jack said.
Living in the Banana Shire, Jack is eligible for the Category B government assistance loans of up to $250,000.
Applicants for the loan would need to pay concession interest rates over a seven-year period.
"If I had to choose one (category), in my case it would be to receive a grant straight up," he said.
"I think the larger loans are more suited to people who have lost a lot of cattle."
Don't even get Jack started on insurance policies.
Despite being insured through home and contents insurance, he's yet to determine what he'd be able to claim back.
"It's pretty complicated," he said.
"I haven't got around to looking at what I can do."
The same can be said for fellow Boyne Valley dairy farmer Leonie Paish.
With upwards of $100,000 of damage to her property after the floods, she has since applied for a crisis payment through the Centrelink Disaster Relief Package.
"You get a one-off $1000 grant from Centrelink," she said. "Every cent counts I guess."
Am I eligible?
Category B: Eligible to apply for loans up to $250,000 (Gladstone Regional Council, Banana Shire Council).
Category C: Eligible to apply for grants up to $25,000 (Bundaberg Regional Council).
Category D: Yet to be determined.
For full eligibility criteria visit the website at qraa.qld.gov.au
