Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education
The Liberal and Nationals Government has today announced applications have opened for a further $50 million for priority flood mitigation infrastructure projects across the country.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will now deliver $100 million over two years for projects that will prepare and protect Australian communities from future devastating flood events.
"This funding - which is from the Emergency Response Fund set up in 2019 - is delivering priority disaster mitigation projects for the states and territories," Minister McKenzie said.
"The Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to investing in mitigating the impacts of major flood events to reduce economic and social harm to Australian communities contributing to our long-term, sustainable flood mitigation efforts.
"The foundations of our commitment to supporting state, territory and local governments to construct or improve essential public infrastructure to prepare for extreme weather events and flooding through the first round of the program remain strong."
The second round of the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will build on the success of the program last financial year, with a renewed focus in targeting levees, levee systems, infrastructure to promote flood plain restoration and specific green infrastructure initiatives that mitigate flood risk.
"This round of the program was determined by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency through evidence-based decisions surrounding the types of projects that best support local communities to better withstand severe flood events and align with the objectives of the Emergency Response Fund," Minister McKenzie said.
"Beyond the Emergency Response Fund, the Government is already investing in complementary disaster resilience programs managed by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency. This includes the Disaster Risk Reduction Package providing $261 million over five years and the Preparing Australia Program that will provide $600 million over six years, starting this financial year.
"We will continue to commit to building Australia's resilience to natural disasters - a long-term strategy to ensure we're a step ahead when the next disaster hits to reduce the future burden of recovery on communities."
The Program Guidelines for the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program 2021-22 are now available and applications for funding are open to states and territories. The Program guidelines and application form are available at www.recovery.gov.au.
In addition to the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure initiatives, the Australian Government's investments in resilience, risk reduction and preparedness include:
- $600 million Preparing Australia Program
- $4.5 million National Capability Package
- $37.1 million Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) package to improve the resilience of Australia's communications networks in bushfire and disaster prone areas program funded under the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund and the Mobile Black Spot Program
- $85 million Natural Hazards Research Australia, a new natural hazards and disaster resilience research centre for the next ten years
- $200 million Infrastructure Betterment Fund in New South Wales, jointly funded with the NSW Government, with $100 million from the Australian Government
- $261 million Disaster Risk Reduction Package, jointly funded with states and territories, with $130.5 million from the Australian Government.
- $11 million in additional funding for the National Aerial Firefighting Centre capability
- $2 million to ensure the availability and integrity of emergency alert systems
- $8 million to progress the Public Safety Mobile Broadband proof of concept trial in NSW.
The Australian Government is also building resilience into its recovery investments, such as the $2.8 billion for 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire recovery.
