DRFA efficiencies deliver more Far North recovery

• Extra $14 million for flood and bushfire recovery in Far North Queensland realised through DRFA efficiencies.
• Includes $7.73 million for flood risk management in the Bloomfield River catchment.
• And $6.27 million towards mental and community health support and assistance for farmers and rural landowners after the late 2023 Northern Queensland Bushfires.

The Miles Government is doing what matters for Far North Queenslanders with $14 million in extra recovery and resilience support after recent floods, cyclones and bushfires over the past 12 months.

Efficiencies realised through joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) have made an extra $14 million possible for additional support for resilience and recovery in FNQ.

Remote parts of the Bloomfield River catchment including Wujal Wujal, Ayton and Degarra, will be the focus of new flood studies to help communities prepare for future extreme weather after unprecedented inundation over summer.

The $7.73 million Far North Queensland Flood Risk Management Package will harness the latest data for critical flood studies of the Bloomfield River catchment to build the clearest picture possible of disaster risk.

Repeated and compounding natural disasters in FNQ, particularly across Cook, the Tablelands and Mareeba, have tested the resilience of entire communities.

The $6.27 million Northern Queensland Bushfires Package will invest in mental health support, community health and wellbeing, agricultural industry recovery and resilience officers, and recovery grants for rural landholders.

Quotes attributable to Member for Cook Cynthia Lui:    

“Recovery from this extraordinary disaster season remains challenging for many Far North Queenslanders and we must use our recent experiences to learn and plan for the future.

“I know the $7.73 million the Miles Government is investing in flood studies on remote stretches of the Bloomfield River catchment will be welcomed by local communities.

“After devastation in Wujal Wujal, Degarra and Ayton, the new data to be incorporated into the Bloomfield River flood studies is about building resilience and peace-of-mind.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Barron River Craig Crawford:  

“There are no quick fixes for recovery from the natural disasters experienced by Far North Queenslanders in the last 12 months.

“Recovery can be long and testing for residents, small businesses and primary producers, and requires extra investment to overcome the trauma of repeated extreme weather.

“Through the Northern Queensland Bushfires Package, the Miles Government is backing communities with more support for mental health and wellbeing, and recovery for farmers.”

Quotes attributable to Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd:

“The Miles Government is doing what matters for the recovery of communities in Far North Queensland after the ferocity of record-breaking bushfires, floods and cyclones last disaster season.

“We’re channelling $14 million in efficiencies from past DRFA programs back into the Far North to help communities bounce back.

“Natural disasters are a fact of life in Queensland, and they seem to be becoming more frequent and extreme.

“This additional $14 million for Far North Queensland brings targeted support for mental health and wellbeing, and investment to help boost community recovery from future disasters.”

The extra $14 million for FNQ builds on more than $247 million in exceptional circumstances joint DRFA funding for natural disasters over the past year.

In the Western Downs, another $500,000 will also be added to bushfire mitigation to reduce the threat of uncontrolled fires, on top of more than $18 million in DRFA assistance already announced for regions affected by the Southern Queensland Bushfires.

Visit www.qra.qld.gov.au for more information on disaster support and disaster recovery funding in Queensland.

Media: 0427 475 089