Qld disaster assistance extended to northern and central regions

The local government areas (LGAs) of Aurukun, Blackall-Tambo, Cassowary Coast, Cloncurry, Douglas, Flinders, and Tablelands have been made eligible for support through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recover Funding Arrangements (DFRA).

The Queensland government opened disaster assistance in late January 2023 when 14 LGAs were made eligible for support in response to extreme weather conditions and flooding.

These LGAs now bring the total number of areas receiving assistance under the DFRA to 33 since the assistance was opened, which include: Barcaldine, Barcoo, Boulia, Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Cook, Croydon, Diamantina, Doomadgee, Etheridge, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Longreach, Mackay, Mapoon, Mareeba, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum, Northern Peninsula Area, Palm Island, Pormpuraaw, Townsville, Whitsunday, and Winton.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management and senator Murray Watt stated the assistance will provide financial support for counter-disaster operations in regard to public safety and the restoration of essential public assets.

“Through this assistance, affected councils can have comfort in knowing they will be supported to provide their communities with the counter-disaster operations required, as well as to restore vital public infrastructure like roads and bridges,” Senator Watt said.

“Providing this assistance now will mean that as soon as flood waters recede in these areas, communities can start to recover, assess the damage, and rebuild from these severe weather events.”

Mark Ryan, Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, said the major flooding and monsoonal rainfall have resulted in dangerous conditions stretching from Aurukun in the north to Blackall-Tambo in Central Queensland.

“There have been reports of 400mm in the Aurukun region, up to 300mm in the Blackall-Tambo region, and reports of 600mm in the Flinders Shire,” Mr Ryan said.

“There are likely to be stock losses in some remote regions, with many properties cut off and property owners set to be stranded at stations for the coming weeks.

“It’s important Queensland communities know that all impacted local government areas are being supported, no matter how remote, with assistance to clean up and recover.”

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers revealed that floods and other natural disasters have cost the Australian economy $5 billion and have impacted two-thirds of Australians.

According to a National Emergency Management Agency analysis, 68 per cent of Australians live in an LGA that was subjected to a natural disaster declaration during 2022.

[RELATED: Regional QLD monsoon support extended]