For some households in Manly and Manly West, the November 2025 severe hailstorms caused significant disruption, damaging homes and cutting power. In response, targeted hardship assistance has now been activated to help eligible, uninsured residents meet essential recovery needs and begin restoring their properties.
Read: Manly Pummelled by 11cm-Hail as Storms Rip Across SEQ
The income-tested support extends beyond Manly and Manly West to other bayside and eastern suburbs impacted by the storms, including Gumdale, Lota, Ransome, Wakerley, Wynnum and Wynnum West. These suburbs are among 15 across Brisbane that have been included in the assistance package following property damage and service disruptions linked to the hailstorms.
The financial assistance is being delivered under the joint Commonwealth–state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). It is available to uninsured residents who meet income eligibility requirements and whose primary place of residence was damaged during the storm event. The measures are intended to help residents address essential recovery costs and return affected homes to a safe and liveable condition.
For Manly and Manly West residents, the assistance comes as clean-up and repair efforts continue across the community. While some damage was immediately visible, other issues have emerged over time as residents assess the full impact of the hail and power outages. For households without insurance, managing these recovery costs can be particularly challenging.
Three forms of Personal Hardship Assistance are available, depending on individual circumstances.
Structural Assistance Grants provide the highest level of support. Eligible, uninsured owner-occupiers may receive up to $80,000 to help repair or replace a disaster-damaged dwelling. The aim of this funding is to ensure homes can be returned to a condition that is safe and fit to live in, rather than to fund non-essential improvements.
Essential Household Contents Grants are also available to help residents replace basic household items that were destroyed as a result of the storms. This income-tested assistance can be used to replace items such as refrigerators, washing machines and beds. Payments are available up to $1,765 for individuals, or up to $5,300 for couples and families.
A third measure, the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme, offers grants of up to $5,000 per household. This assistance is for uninsured homeowners who need support to reconnect essential services such as electricity, gas, water or sewerage where storm damage has affected safety or access.
While Manly and Manly West are among the bayside suburbs included, the assistance package also applies to other parts of Brisbane impacted by the hailstorms. Suburbs covered by the activation include Ashgrove, Bardon, Boondall, Ferny Grove, Keperra, Mount Crosby and The Gap, highlighting the wide reach of the storm system as it moved across the city.
Government representatives have noted that severe weather events are increasing in strength and frequency, placing greater pressure on households and communities. The hardship assistance has been introduced to ensure support is available for residents most affected by the storms, particularly those without insurance who meet the eligibility criteria.
Affected residents are encouraged to check their eligibility and seek information about the assistance available to them. Details about the grants, including eligibility requirements and application processes, are available through the Queensland Government’s disaster assistance website.
Support is also available through the 24-hour Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349, which can provide guidance on applications and information about other recovery services.
Read: How Manly West Homeowners Can Protect Themselves From Roof Repair Scams
As Manly and Manly West continue the recovery process, the hardship assistance offers a practical form of support for eligible households working to restore their homes and essential services after last month’s hailstorms.
Published 16-December-2025
