Joint statement by the Australian and Queensland Governments

Central Queensland building back better after Cyclone Marcia

Central Queensland communities are continuing reconstruction process after Tropical Cyclone Marcia left a trail of destruction throughout the region in February 2015.

While visiting works on the Scenic Highway at Statue Bay, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said that more than $11 million was being used to upgrade the section of the Highway to protect against future natural disasters.

“The Scenic Highway suffered catastrophic landslips and damage following Tropical Cyclone Marcia so increasing the resilience and quality of the road just makes sense,” she said.

“These works are part of an almost $60 million reconstruction program and it was great to see the way that this incredible community has recovered and come together in the face of such hardship.”

Queensland Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad said that together Livingstone and Rockhampton councils were delivering both repairs damaged infrastructure and significant upgrades to protect against future damage.

“Having seen the devastation first-hand in the days after the cyclone struck, it was clear the community had a big job ahead of them and it’s great to see the progress being made,” Ms Trad said

“Both councils have already delivered major parts of their program and are making the region stronger and more disaster resilient to natural disasters in the process.”

Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry, on behalf of Minister for Justice Michael Keenan, said both council’s significant reconstruction and betterment programs were being delivered through the joint State-Commonwealth funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

“The Australian and Queensland governments are committed to working together to ensure disaster-affected communities have all the support they need,” Ms Landry said.

“The NDRRA provides local councils with much needed funding for clean-up, recovery and restoration of essential public assets after disaster events like Tropical Cyclone Marcia.”

Queensland Minister for Rural Economic Development and State Member for Rockhampton Bill Byrne said that Rockhampton was well on the way to a full recovery.

“Rockhampton’s repair program is almost 75% completed with the most significant project - the repair and upgrade of Pilbeam Drive on Mt Archer - finished and work on local icon Kershaw Gardens well underway,” Mr Byrne said.

State Member for Keppel Brittany Lauga said that she was looking forward to the completion of the works at Statue Bay, an integral tourist route in the Yeppoon region.

“The works on the Scenic Highway are significant and complex but will deliver the community a more resilient road better able to withstand the onslaughts of Mother Nature,” Ms Lauga said.

Livingstone Mayor Bill Ludwig said the scale of damage and complex repair and rebuilding currently being undertaken on the Scenic Highway at Statue Bay is a testament to the significant challenges our community have to face in the wake of TC Marcia.

“The level of support Livingstone and our region was afforded by both the State and Federal Governments in the immediate aftermath of TC Marcia and throughout the on-going recovery process has been nothing short of outstanding,” Mayor Ludwig said.

“The funding support received has allowed us to both repair the damage done while improving the resilience and capacity of the Scenic Highway to withstand major cyclonic and extreme wet weather events."