CYCLONE DEBBIE RECOVERY CONTINUES 12 MONTHS ON

Queensland continues to rebuild one year on following the devastation of Severe Tropical Cyclone Debbie, with the Commonwealth and State governments having allocated $490 million in disaster funding to help communities recover.

In response to Severe Tropical Cyclone (STC) Debbie, 36 of Queensland’s 77 local government areas were activated for assistance under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security Angus Taylor, who has responsibility for Commonwealth disaster assistance, said Cyclone Debbie was a disaster beyond the scale Queensland had seen for some time.

“After damaging the coast with its furious winds and storm surges, Cyclone Debbie’s flooding rains inundated communities all the way down to the New South Wales border.”

“Along with the Queensland Government, the Commonwealth Government has committed significant funding to support these communities during times of ongoing hardship and disruption.”

“A wide range of assistance has been made available, including emergency assistance for individuals and families, funding for councils and state agencies to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets, support for primary producers and small businesses and a range of broader community recovery and rebuilding initiatives.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the investment had helped communities get back on their feet after the Category 4 cyclone crossed the Queensland coast at Airlie Beach on 28 March 2017.

“STC Debbie devastated people’s homes and damaged infrastructure and industry on an almost unbelievable scale,” she said.

“The thing about Queensland is that we might live a long way apart but when disaster strikes we’re all in it together.

“From the tip of Cape York, to the west and down to the border, even our most remote communities are never alone.”

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said STC Debbie damaged Queensland homes, businesses, schools and infrastructure and left families displaced, industries crippled and towns isolated.

“Tens of thousands of Queenslanders were personally impacted not just by their own losses, but by the devastation their communities experienced,” he said.

“As Queenslanders we pulled together to assist communities devastated by Cyclone Debbie, and in May 2017, Operation Queensland Recovery was launched to support communities as they recovered and rebuilt.

“Complete recovery and rebuilding after Cyclone Debbie’s ferocious destruction will take a long time, but I am proud to say that the Queensland Government is in it for the long haul.”

• The key highlights of the recovery effort included:
• More than $490 million in NDRRA support has been approved.
• More than 300 applications for emergency housing assistance processed and closed
• More than $32 million in assistance distributed to more than 119,900 people across the state, comprising:
• $21.58 million in Immediate Hardship Assistance Grants
• $5.64 million in Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grants
• $3.26 million in Essential Household Contents Grants
• $2.02 million in Structural Assistance Grants
• The provision of personal and financial counselling, mental health services and community development by 29 organisations across Queensland to address longer-term needs of disaster-affected communities, individuals and families.
• More than $24 million in assistance under NDRRA Category C clean up and approved grants to 2228 primary producers, 526 small business and 104 non-profit organisations.
• $55 million spent on state-controlled roads.
• Almost $1 million in assistance has been provided to sport and recreational clubs across Queensland to repair facilities and infrastructure.
• The NDRRA is a joint funding initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments to provide disaster relief and recovery payments and infrastructure restoration to help communities recover from the effects of natural disasters.

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Alicja Rudz 0481 907 178 (Minister Taylor)
Anika Hume 0447 320 039 (Minister Dick)