Queenslanders from Bundaberg through to the Northern Peninsula Area are getting disaster ready with works in full swing to deliver more than $64.8 million worth of projects under the Australian Government's flagship Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).
More than 180 projects were submitted by a range of local governments, not-for-profit organisations, private enterprises, and other delivery partners, through the first round, which saw almost $400 million jointly invested.
The 16 projects rolling out specifically in Northern and Far North Queensland range from upgrading early flood warning infrastructure, installing solar panels and emergency power generators to building and upgrade disaster centres, nature-based mitigation works, and upgrading pavement and drainage
Minister for Emergency Management, Jenny McAllister said communities are already benefitting from the projects ahead of the 2024-25 Higher Risk Weather Season.
"Communities in Queensland have unfortunately seen and felt the impacts of natural disasters in recent years. These projects will help ensure communities are better prepared for and recover quicker from increasingly frequent and intense natural hazards," Minister McAllister said.
"Our government is listening to communities and investing in initiatives that are driven by local councils and community groups. It will help enable best practice response and preparedness activities, enhance community resilience, prevent essential services from being disrupted and reduce the impact of severe weather events.
"Some of these projects are already having an immediate benefit. For example, our largest investment for Phase 4 of the popular Household Resilience Program is enabling housing upgrades for vulnerable households so that they not only stand up to cyclones, but also save on their insurance premiums.
"The recently completed flood monitoring and early warning system project at Chinaman Creek Dam in Cloncurry will also help local disaster management groups respond efficiently and effectively to rising floodwaters threatening Cloncurry communities.
"These projects from Round 1 of the Disaster Ready Fund are part of our government's $1 billion five-year investment in disaster resilience projects to better protect Australians from natural hazards."
For more information, including a full list of projects and information about future rounds, visit the National Emergency Management Agency's website at: nema.gov.au/programs/disaster-ready-fund.
