Farmers and primary producers are being encouraged to share their experiences after wild weather battered the region over the weekend.
Severe storms, which impacted much of the southeast coast from Friday to Sunday, tore through local communities with heavy rain, strong winds and hail.
In Farnsfield and Childers, the impacts were severe.
The Bundaberg Fruit and Vegetable Growers (BFVG) estimates damage varied greatly between properties, from around $40,000 to more than $1 million in crop losses and up to $500,000 in infrastructure damage for individual farms.
Affected commodities include macadamias, lychees, nurseries, cane, citrus and protected cropping operations.
BFVG CEO Bree Grima said those impacted were being urged to fill out the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Disaster Impact Survey, which helped determine recovery needs and supported the activation of financial assistance for the sector.
“We’re encouraging all affected growers to complete the Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) survey, which is a key step towards accessing recovery assistance,” she said.
“Once declared, growers may become eligible for financial and practical support.
“It’s also important that growers take plenty of photos and keep detailed records of the damage to support their applications and future recovery efforts.”
Local Disaster Management Group Chair Mayor Helen Blackburn echoed the sentiment, urging local producers to take part in the survey while reminding residents to stay disaster-ready.
“This survey is critical,” she said.
“The information collected gives us the evidence we need to advocate for state and federal support.
“I also want to remind all residents to take some time to update their disaster preparedness plans and stay informed through Council’s Disaster Dashboard– it’s one of the best tools we have for keeping our community safe and connected during emergencies.”
The Disaster Impact Survey and further information can be found at: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/disaster/impact-survey
