- $1 million is being provided for the rehabilitation and restoration of rain and flood-affected areas in North and Central West Queensland.
- Grants ranging from $20,000 to $250,000 are available to assist with the removal and disposal of flood debris.
With North Queensland under siege from extreme weather again, the Crisafulli and Albanese Government are finalising relief grants to help recovery from monsoon and flooding events in 2022 and 2023.
Ranging from $20,000 to $250,000, the grants are available to Natural Resource Management (NRM) organisations, First Nations Land and Sea Rangers, Aboriginal Corporations and councils to assist affected communities in North and Central Queensland to remove and dispose of flood debris from areas including coastlines, nature reserves and waterways impacted by the extreme weather events.
The grants are provided through the "Clean Up and Invasive Species Management Program" which is part of the $15 million Environmental Recovery Package that was developed in response to the extensive 2022-2023 monsoon and flooding.
Jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the grants will also help to improve local resilience against future disaster events.
As stated by Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell:
"This additional funding will help communities continue to restore land impacted by these severe disasters.
"Our environmental and culturally valuable areas, are home to endangered wildlife and diverse ecosystems, it is vital that they are protected now, and into the future.
"The damage caused by the monsoon and flooding in late 2022 and early 2023 was devastating, and programs like this are essential to support recovery and the clean-up of flood debris across our coastlines and within environmentally sensitive areas.
"We understand the impact of these events is long lasting, and I am committed to ensuring we can provide this support in a timely manner for future and current events.
"This funding will significantly help improve ecosystem health, enhance natural and cultural assets, and protect waterways for the enjoyment of current and future generations."
As stated by Senator Nita Green:
"This funding is essential for our local communities to recover from the impact of the monsoon and flooding events, providing people with the resources needed to restore their homes and landscapes.
"I have seen the resilience of our local communities, and this support demonstrates the Australian Government's unwavering commitment in helping them rebuild and regain their footing.
"Our natural environment is a vital part of who we are, and this funding will ensure that we protect and restore our unique ecosystems for future generations to enjoy."
The grant round for the 2022-23 Environmental Recovery Program (Clean up) will open 13 February 2025 and close 13 March 2025 for assessment.
