A federal/state funding package announced last week will see disaster-damaged essential public infrastructure in Queensland rebuilt to a better standard.
It is the largest ever amount made available in a single disaster season in Queensland, with $150 million directly targeting local government areas seeking to build back better following the extraordinary flooding events of 2021-22.
The money will be provided by the Federal and Queensland government through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the funding will allow applicable councils and state agencies to improve key assets such as causeways, culverts, roads and bridges to better withstand the impacts of natural disasters.
Eligible applicants within local government areas impacted by the Central, Southern and Western Queensland Rainfall and Flooding; Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth Flooding; and the South-East Queensland Heavy Rainfall and Flooding can apply for projects from the $150 million funding to improve the resilience of essential public assets that were damaged as a direct result of those floods.
A further $20 million made available through DRFA efficiencies is available in all 66 local government areas activated for disaster funding following the nine disasters that impacted Queensland during the 2021-22 disaster season.
Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) chief executive Alison Smith thanked the State and Federal governments for the joint DRFA funding package.
“Queensland is Australia’s most disaster-prone state so we must always endeavour to build damaged infrastructure back at standard designed to endure the next disaster to strike,” Ms Smith said.
“Councils cannot do this on their own so we welcome the support of the State and Federal governments through critical initiatives like this $170 million funding allocation.”
Councils and state agencies can apply for the $170 million Betterment funding via the Queensland Reconstruction Authority home page.