Joint media release with The Hon Paul Toole MP and The Hon Steph Cooke MP
Public infrastructure directly impacted by natural disasters will be rebuilt to a more resilient standard, thanks to an investment of more than $500 million from the Australian and NSW governments.
Applications opened today for the $200 million Infrastructure Betterment Fund to help recovery efforts focus on rebuilding damaged and destroyed infrastructure, such as bridges and stormwater drainage, in a more resilient way.
Public assets directly impacted by the 2019-20 Black Summer bush fires, the storm and flood events in early 2021 and the severe weather and flooding in early 2022 will be eligible for the fund.
This is in addition to a further $312.5 million also announced today to target road and transport-related infrastructure in 26 northern NSW councils impacted by the early 2022 flooding through the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package.
The total $512.5 million has been made available through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and will be administered by both Regional NSW and Transport for NSW, delivering a consistent, whole-of-government approach to betterment.
To apply, or for further information, visit: Infrastructure Betterment Fund.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt:
The combination of these two announcements means directly-impacted essential infrastructure can be rebuilt, and will support the construction of safer roads, and bridges with better drainage so that infrastructure can better withstand and bounce back from future natural disasters.
We are committed to giving communities the support needed to be better-equipped for future floods and fires, which is why the Commonwealth Government is supporting this project, and is also delivering on a new National Emergency Management Agency, and our Disaster Ready Fund to invest up to $200 million a year in risk-reduction and mitigation projects nationally.
Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier of NSW and Minister for Regional NSW, Paul Toole:
Public infrastructure can literally save lives during emergencies - whether it's roads and bridges being used as evacuation routes or stormwater drainage that can better manage large volumes of water during floods.
We're not just building back for now - we're building back better for the future by helping councils and state agencies improve the resilience of these essential assets damaged by natural disasters and help communities stay connected in the process.
Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery, Steph Cooke:
We've seen a high frequency of natural disasters recently including bush fires and floods and we know that we are likely to face more challenges in the months ahead. It's important we work on improving the quality of public infrastructure so that our communities are better equipped for future natural disasters.
Eligible LGAs
LGAs declared eligible for the 2019/2020 NSW Bushfires (AGRN 871): Armidale, Ballina, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Blue Mountains, Byron, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, Inverell, Kempsey, Ku-ring-gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Lithgow, Mid Coast, Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Oberon, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Sutherland, Tamworth, Tenterfield, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Upper Lachlan, Uralla, Wagga Wagga, Walcha, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly.
LGAs declared eligible for the February2021 Storms and Floods (AGRN 954): Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kyogle, Lismore, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Richmond Valley.
LGAs declared eligible for the March 2021 Storms and Floods (AGRN 960): Armidale, Ballina, Bathurst, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Bogan, Brewarrina, Byron, Cabonne, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Central Darling, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Coonamble, Cumberland, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Fairfield, Georges River, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Greater Hume, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Hunters Hill, Inner West, Inverell, Kempsey, Ku-ring-gai, Kyogle, Lachlan, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Lithgow, Liverpool, Liverpool Plains, Maitland, Mid Coast, Moree Plains, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Narrabri, Narromine, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Oberon, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Richmond Valley, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Sutherland, Tamworth, Temora, Tenterfield, The Hills, Tweed, Upper Lachlan, Uralla, Walcha, Walgett, Warren, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly.
LGAs declared eligible for the February and March 2022 Severe Weather and Flooding (AGRN 1012): Armidale, Ballina, Bayside, Bega Valley, Bellingen, Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Byron, Camden, Campbelltown, Canterbury Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Cumberland, Dungog, Eurobodalla, Fairfield, Georges River, Glen Innes Severn, Goulburn Mulwaree, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Kempsey, Kiama, Ku-ring-gai, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Lithgow, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Mid-Western, Muswellbrook, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Richmond Valley, Ryde, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Strathfield, Sutherland, Tenterfield, The Hills, Tweed, Upper Hunter, Waverley, Willoughby, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly, Wollongong.
LGAs declared eligible for the February and March 2022 Severe Weather and Flooding for the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package (AGRN 1012): Armidale, Ballina, Bellingen, Byron, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Glen Innes Severn, Kempsey, Kyogle, Lake Macquarie, Lismore, Maitland, Mid Coast, Muswellbrook, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port-Macquarie Hastings, Port Stephens, Richmond Valley, Singleton, Tenterfield, Tweed, Upper Hunter.
