Joint media release with Senator Nita Green
North and Far North Queensland will benefit from 77 new resilience initiatives to help reduce disaster risk across road and transport networks, in communities, and throughout the environment.
The Albanese Government will invest $84.8 million through the North Queensland Resilience Program to 18 local government areas including Townsville, Douglas, Mornington, Mount Isa, and Whitsunday Councils.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said the successful projects would help reduce vulnerability to natural hazards for regional communities in some of Queensland's most disaster-prone regions.
"Councils will be undertaking critical works to better equip their communities with the assets and resources they need to withstand severe weather events," Minister McAllister said.
"Projects range from major infrastructure upgrades and critical transport hubs to flood mitigation infrastructure, emergency shelters and community generators, and the sealing of roads frequently washed away.
"By prioritising resilience, we can safeguard lives, property, and our environment. This will lead to shorter response and recovery periods, benefitting community wellbeing, economic activity, and some of Australia's greatest natural environments.
"The recent floods are an all too familiar reminder of the destruction that extreme weather can bring and is why our government is providing this direct investment to reduce future risk."
Senator for Queensland Nita Green welcomed the new investments.
"This funding comes at a crucial time for North Queensland which has been hit hard by natural disasters," Senator Green said.
"Regional and remote communities affected by recent major events have been prioritised with this program, which will see millions flow to disaster resilience projects from Whitsundays to Douglas, Boulia to Burke, and many parts in between.
"Disaster resilience comes in many forms. It can be upgraded roads, airstrips and foreshores, improved drainage capacity or wastewater services, or forward-focus initiatives like flood studies and risk reduction plans.
"Together this all creates a stronger, safer, more resilient Queensland, improving liveability and safety in the best state in Australia."
Local governments benefitting from the North Queensland Resilience Program include Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Doomadgee, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinley, Mornington, Mount Isa, Richmond, Townsville, Whitsunday and Winton.
For more on the North Queensland Resilience Program, including the successful projects visit the National Emergency Management Agency's website.
