New $25 million natural disaster resilience funding announced for Queensland

A $25 million cash splash to better prepare Quensland for natural disasters will be spent outside the southeast corner. See the LGAs where the money will be spent.

Queensland will be better prepared for floods, fires, storms and cyclones following a $25 million cash injection to boost the state’s natural disaster resilience.

The combined federal and state funding will be shared between 65 projects, including many in regional and remote areas, to help communities rebuild after disasters and better prepare for future extreme weather events.

The majority of the funds are aimed at the 14 local government areas hardest hit by the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon Trough including the Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Charters Towers, Cloncurry, Douglas, Etheridge, Flinders, Hinchinbrook, McKinlay, Richmond, Townsville, Whitsunday and Winton.

More than $19m will go to the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund, with key projects to include the purchase of important equipment like back-up generators and rain gauges, as well as disaster management training and other awareness-raising activities.

Flooded homes in Townsville in 2019. Picture: AAP/Dave Acree

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the diverse range of projects aimed to reduce the risks during disasters by providing better infrastructure and warning systems, as well as ensuring Queenslanders were able to “bounce back” from previous disasters.

“Queenslanders are no strangers to natural hazards, and unfortunately science tells us we’re in for more intense and more frequent natural disasters in the future,” he said.

“It’s crucial our communities are as prepared as they can be for the next flood, bushfire, storm or cyclone. There’s all sorts of projects that will help to protect communities from disaster damage.

“Both levels of government are committed to working together to get the best results for Queenslanders.”

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt. Picture: Liam Kidston

About $5.9m will go to the second round of North Queensland Managing Disaster Risk Grants, which are used for infrastructure upgrades like flood mitigation studies, installing emergency generators and improving airport runways.

A further $4.2m will go toward 11 grants to help the region better withstand economic shocks associated with natural hazards and challenges like the pandemic.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles, who is also responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA), said the state government was committed to making communities safer and more resilient.

He said resilience and risk reduction came in “many forms” from mental health support, to cutting edge technology analysing storm surges and tides to help emergency authorities decide whether to evacuate communities.

“Supporting the wellbeing and mental health of Queenslanders is of high importance, that’s why almost $1 million will go to the Australian Red Cross to design and implement a disaster management solution for Queenslanders who were born overseas and speak a language other than English,” he said.

Originally published as New $25 million natural disaster resilience funding announced for Queensland