Joint media release with Senator Nita Green and The Hon Steven Miles MP
Nearly $25 million will be invested in disaster preparedness across the state to make Queensland more resilient, through funding by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments.
Sixty-five projects, including many in regional and remote Queensland, have been awarded funding to ensure Queenslanders can bounce back quicker after a fire, flood, storm or cyclone.
Much of the funding is aimed at the 14 local government areas that were hardest hit by the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough: Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Richmond, Townsville, Whitsunday and Winton.
The support includes:
Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF) - Over $19 million of joint Queensland ($8.3 million) and Federal Government ($10.7 million) funding with projects from the Gold Coast to the Torres Cape. Key projects include the purchase of important equipment, such as back-up generators and rain gauges, as well as disaster management training and other awareness-raising activities. The QRRRF is administrated by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and is jointly funded as part of the governments' five-year National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction. A full list of projects is available at Queensland Reconstruction Authority.
- North Queensland Managing Disaster Risk Grants (Round 2) - $5.9 million of the Federal Government's contribution to the QRRRF supports 20 recovery and resilience projects that benefit North Queensland communities by reducing the impact of natural disasters. Key projects target infrastructure upgrades like installing emergency generators and upgrading airport runways, as well as flood mitigation studies and workshops which bring communities together to develop disaster preparedness plans. A full list of projects is available at National Emergency Management Agency.
Recovery and Resilience Grants (Round 2, Stream 2) - $1.6 million in federal assistance to support the long-term recovery and resilience in areas most impacted by the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough. The 11 co-contribution grants of $10,000-$200,000 will be used to improve roads, water access, biodiversity and fencing. A full list of projects is available National Emergency Management Agency.
North Queensland Economic Diversification Grants (Round 2) - $4.2 million in federal support for 11 grants to help the north better withstand economic shocks associated with natural hazards and challenges like the pandemic. The co-contribution grants of $10,000-$500,000 were made available to regions impacted by the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough to expand existing industries, invest in new ones and grow jobs. Successful projects include traffic management technology, business infrastructure on Magnetic Island and in Hughenden, manufacturing equipment in Townsville and the Whitsundays, farm innovations in Cloncurry, water storage and irrigation in the Burdekin and an outback Aboriginal history museum and art centre near Winton. A full list of projects is available at National Emergency Management Agency.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the diverse range of projects aimed to reduce the risks during disasters by providing better infrastructure and warning systems, while also ensuring Queenslanders were able to bounce back from previous disasters.
"Queenslanders are no strangers to natural hazards, and unfortunately science tells us we're in for more intense and more frequent natural disasters in the future," Minister Watt said.
"It's crucial our communities are as prepared as they can be for the next flood, bushfire, storm or cyclone. There's all sorts of projects that will help to protect communities from disaster damage.
"Both levels of government are committed to working together to get the best results for Queenslanders."
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) Steven Miles said resilience and risk reduction comes in many forms and both levels of government are supporting a broad range of initiatives to better prepare Queensland communities.
"The Palaszczuk Government's is committed to continuing to make communities safer and more resilient," Mr Miles said.
"This year through the QRRRF, $1.7 million will be invested in breakthrough technology being developed by Griffith University to predict storm surge heights and dynamic tide levels. This system will help emergency and disaster management services decide when a community may need to prepare or evacuate," Mr Miles said.
"We're also putting $2 million towards upgrading the sewerage system at Bicentennial Lakes in Mareeba, to prevent sewage overflows during wet weather.
"Around $650,000 will go towards supporting our first nations communities and reducing the risks they face through the delivery of future risk mitigation strategies and event response for government and community infrastructure.
"Supporting the wellbeing and mental health of Queenslanders is of high importance, that's why almost $1 million will go to the Australian Red Cross to design and implement a disaster management solution for Queenslanders who were born overseas and speak a language other than English.
"On a smaller scale but no less important, $90,000 is going towards Are you Bogged Mate Limited for 16 community mental health events to build remote volunteer resilience through conversation," he said.
"Resilience and risk reduction comes in many forms and the QRRRF is supporting a broad range of initiatives to better prepare Queensland communities."
Senator for Queensland Nita Green said the north would benefit from the investment.
"This is all about making regional Queensland more prepared and more resilient, so that in the face of a natural disaster regional Queenslanders have the upper hand."
"For too long the focus has been on how we recover after an event. Our Government is investing in preparedness before an event occurs."
