QRA funding falls short of mark

WHILE flood-damage across the Scenic Rim topped $50 million, the council has only been given $12.4 million from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).

WHILE the flood-damage bill across the Scenic Rim topped $50 million, the council has only been given $12.4 million from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA).

After presenting four submissions to the QRA, the Scenic Rim Regional Council has received an approved budget amount of $12.4 million, well short of the council's preliminary bill of $50 million.

Scenic Rim Mayor John Brent said QRA assistance was vital in rebuilding the region with repairs vastly beyond the council's ability to repair it.

"This is a three-year project; with the scope of works is double our normal annual road works program budget," he said.

"Council has invested a lot of time in ensuring our submissions to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority are the best they can be so once we commence restoration works there are no delays and minimum additional cost to council."

Cr Brent said the repairs to flood-damaged infrastructure was entering a phase of long-term restoration.

"The report that will go to council later this month will outline where we are up to and the best way to move forward. We are now entering the restoration phase of this process and residents can rest assured we will expedite much-needed works to get our region back on its feet and looking good again."

According to Cr Brent previous work to repair flood-damaged infrastructure was purely temporary work designed to get the infrastructure up and working.

"All the funds spent to date on works from the floods to date are emergent, that is they were a temporary fix.

"We are now into the real thing of providing long-term solutions."

During the flood last year more than 20 homes in Harrisville and Kalbar were voluntarily evacuated when floodwaters approached, causing significant damage to infrastructure in the former Boonah shirt.

According to the council, the $50 million preliminary bill is the estimated cost to repair council's eligible affected infrastructure under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements guidelines.

Originally published as QRA funding falls short of mark