The Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) has committed A$1 million (US$628,950) to support relief efforts following the devastation caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the North Queensland floods. The funding will provide immediate assistance to affected families, community groups, and sporting clubs, alongside a special grant round for long-term recovery efforts.
RACQ Managing Director and Group CEO David Carter stated that the organisation had re-prioritised its community investments to focus on essential relief, including food and clothing distribution.
“The RACQ Foundation will launch a special recovery grant round worth up to A$500,000 for community organisations affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the North Queensland floods,” Carter said.
As part of its disaster response, RACQ has allocated A$200,000 to charities Thread Together and FareShare to assist flood-affected communities. FareShare will receive an additional A$100,000 to supply 28,000 ready-made meals, while Thread Together will use A$60,000 to expand its clothing distribution, providing up to 100,000 new clothing items in heavily impacted areas. Brisbane Sustainability Agency will receive A$30,000 to establish three pop-up stations offering water, food, and clean-up supplies. A further A$110,000 will be directed to community-based organisations in the worst-affected regions.
Beyond immediate relief, the RACQ Foundation has introduced a special A$500,000 recovery grant round, allowing not-for-profit organisations to apply for funding to assist in rebuilding and restoring operations.
As of 8:30 AM on 12 March, RACQ had received 7,447 insurance claims related to the extreme weather event, comprising 7,063 home insurance claims and 384 motor insurance claims. The highest number of claims came from Brisbane (2,723), followed by the Gold Coast (2,123), Moreton Bay (951), Logan – Beaudesert (884), and Wide Bay (223).
Carter indicated that additional support measures could be introduced as the full scale of the cyclone and flood damage becomes clearer. “We have a network of great community partners who shine in these moments, and we will continue to explore ways on how we can help Queenslanders recover,” he said.
Further details regarding the RACQ Foundation’s special recovery grant round are expected to be announced later this month.
