Townsville City Council and Burdekin Shire Council can now access disaster funding from the Albanese and Crisafulli Governments for response and recovery efforts in the wake of recent flooding following sustained rainfall across the region.
Support has been made available under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments.
Flooding in the lower Burdekin and Haughton catchments during December 2024 damaged several key roads in the Townsville and Burdekin local government areas and temporarily closed some routes.
The assistance supports counter disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets, with councils able to use the funding to claim expenses for emergency repairs and the rebuilding of eligible assets, and activities that ensure public safety.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the disaster assistance activated today will help councils recover and rebuild.
"This includes repairing damage to the road network and ensuring community safety.
'We are working closely with the Queensland Government to ensure communities can get the support they need as they get back on their feet.'
Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said this new activation would let relevant councils recoup all eligible costs from their disaster response and recovery efforts.
"We're well practiced here in Queensland when it comes to disaster recovery, particularly in the north," Minister Leahy said.
"Our councils do a remarkable job putting in their disaster mitigation measures and conducting repairs to damaged infrastructure.
"Townsville and Burdekin can now recover the costs of damage caused by these recent storms, and I commend both councils for the critical work they're doing."
Today's announcement follows the end-of-year DRFA activation for several councils throughout the south-west and Wide Bay-Burnett also affected by severe storms and flooding through November and December 2024.
This includes the councils of Balonne, Maranoa, Paroo and Quilpie, and Fraser Coast, Gympie, North Burnett, Somerset and South Burnett.
