Resilience fund restart

THE Queensland Government has restarted the Household Resilience Program almost 12 months after it revealed the program had been shelved amid labour and supply shortages.

Applications have opened for the next phase of the program, which helps North Queenlanders protect their homes from extreme weather.

The program was put on hold in August last year, with Housing and Public Works Minister Mick de Brenni saying there were “significant pressures” on the construction industry amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr de Brenni said the program would help low-income households in cyclone-prone areas to strengthen their homes.

“We can’t control Mother Nature, but we can control how resilient our homes are, and that is why the Palaszczuk government is investing $20m to help make Queensland homes more resilient to storms and cyclones,” he said.

“In the first two phases, we helped 3525 low-income households replace roofs and doors, reinforce windows and tie down external structures.

“Those people are now living in homes much more resistant to storm and cyclone damage, while many have also reaped a side benefit of reduced insurance premiums.

“These first two phases were oversubscribed, so I urge eligible homeowners to get in quickly to make sure they don’t miss out.”

The program funds 75 per cent of eligible improvements valued up to $15,000 total project value. The homeowner pays the remaining 25 per cent.

“What this means is we’ll cover up to a maximum of $11,250, with the balance paid by the applicant,” Mr de Brenni said.

The program also helps bring down the cost of insurance for homeowners, with an average reduction of 9 per cent in insurance premiums in phase two.

To be eligible, homeowners must meet an income test and live in a home built before 1984 that is within 50km of the coastline, from Bundaberg north to Cape York and west to the NT border.

The program has given a boost to businesses in the past, with previous phases injecting $61m into the North Queensland economy as local contractors were used by 94 per cent of grant recipients.

“The continuation of the Household Resilience Program is great news for small businesses, contractors and tradies right along the northern Queensland coastline,” Mr de Brenni said.

“We had reports from the first two phases of funding that some businesses had gained the equivalent of a year’s work in some regions.

“In particular, regional roofing companies received a huge boost, as roofing works were by far the most popular option for people seeking to better protect their homes.

“This meant new jobs were created for tradies and labourers, as well as opportunities right through the product and support supply chains.

Eligibility criteria and funding information for the program are available at qld.gov.au/strongerhomes.