The north and north-west reaches of Queensland will benefit from an almost $16 million investment to rebuild infrastructure damaged by the 2019 monsoon trough.
This latest tranche of funding will support 46 resilience projects and this is in addition to the $93 million-plus already approved through a Commonwealth and state government partnership to build stronger, more resilient infrastructure able to adapt to extreme weather events in regional Queensland.
Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said construction works would begin in the coming weeks, with the goal of having all projects delivered within 12 months.
"When it comes to Queensland, a severe weather event is never far in the distance," Minister Littleproud said.
"So while our response to the COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing, we continue to invest in the roads, floodways, drainage and barriers needed to keep communities safe, and withstand potentially devastating impacts of natural disasters
"Almost $16 million will be shared between 18 councils and one state agency to rebuild community infrastructure stronger than before.
"No matter where Queenslanders live, they should have confidence they're well protected from what Mother Nature can throw our way."
Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said investing now would reduce disaster recovery costs in the future.
"COVID doesn't change the fact we're the most at-risk state in Australia when it comes to natural disasters," Mr Dick said.
"In the past 12 months our state has faced bushfires, cyclones, floods and a pandemic. We're a tough bunch, but we need our infrastructure to be just as resilient.
"Our government is committed to helping Queensland unite and recover, and infrastructure investment and job creation is crucial to that.
"Through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority we will keep working with councils and state agencies to ensure Queenslanders are best protected against disasters in the years ahead."
Approved betterment projects:
- Barcoo Shire Council
- Upgrade existing floodway and build new floodway on Jundah-Winton Road, $368,000
- Burdekin Shire Council
- Install bitumen seal, pipes and rock protection along Coach Road, $222,000
- Cairns Regional Council
- Replace existing pipe culverts on Goldsborough Road with larger pipes, $698,000
- Cassowary Coast Regional Council
- Stabilise and seal sections of multiple roads and install new floodway, $234,000
- Cook Shire Council
- Construct concrete floodways and causeways, and seal roads to reduce erosion, $990,000
- Croydon Shire Council
- Install gravel, stabilise pavement, install bitumen seal and upgrade culverts on Coralie Road, $1,203,000
- Hinchinbrook Shire Council
- Install pavement on the Menzies Street creek crossing, $76,000
- Kowanyama Aboriginal Shire Council
- Construct multiple concrete causeways on Pormpuraaw Road, $319,000
- Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council
- Extend a concrete causeway and stabilise sections of Portland Road, $1,307,000
- Longreach Regional Council
- Stabilise a section of Stonehenge River Road and construct concrete causeways on Silsoe and Tocal Roads, $184,000
- McKinlay Shire Council
- Gravel and seal a 25 km section of Gilliat McKinlay Road, $2.2 million
- Townsville City Council
- Improve drainage on Apjohn and Echlin Streets, $1,531,000
- Whitsunday Regional Council
- Reshape table drains on Emu Plains, Exmoor and Rutherford Roads, $147,000
- Winton Shire Council
- Realign sections of Diamantina River Road and expand the Whyrallah Floodway, $2,468,000
- Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
- Construct concrete margins and a concrete floodway on Buddabadoo Road, $92,000
Approved recreational asset projects:
- Department of Environment and Science
- Repair walking tracks in Conway National Park and access roads to Clement Eastern Beach, $464,000
- Richmond Shire Council
- Reinstate and clean-out drainage within Lake Fred Recreational Area, $93,000
- Townsville City Council
- Repair Aplins and Black Weirs, assorted park upgrades, $530,000
Approved water and sewerage projects:
- Carpentaria Shire Council
- Repair scouring damage to Glenore Weir wall, $66,000
- Douglas Shire Council
- Remove and replace the cyclone fence at Mossman Waste Water Treatment Plant, $15,000
- Townsville City Council
- Replace the pipeline crossing Ross River, upgrade switchboards, valves and generators at various water and waste facilities, repair access road to the Kulburn Water Storage site, $2,686,000
These projects are being delivered through the $242 million exceptional circumstances package jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Delivery of these projects will be rolled out until June 2021.
