$169.297 million cyclone recovery package to restore SEQ beaches and boost communities

• $169.297 million in extraordinary recovery packages for South East Queensland communities devastated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
• Beach and environmental recovery the centrepiece of the new initiatives, with $74 million for environmental clean-up and conservation, sand replenishment, erosion repairs, and national park recovery.
• Other measures target recovery of community and sport and recreation assets, mental health, small business and primary industries support. 

South East Queensland beaches will be brought back to their best, community assets rebuilt, and businesses supported as part of another major disaster recovery investment by the Australian and Queensland Governments. 

In the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, a $169.297 million recovery program will be delivered under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), with packages including: 

• $74 million Environmental Recovery for environmental recovery, including beach replenishment, and national park recovery.
• $27 million Community and Recreational Assets Recovery to repair and rebuild damaged community and recreation facilities.
• $27.5 million Sport and Recreational Community Facilities Recovery that will help fund the reconstruction of impacted sport and rec facilities.
• $2.4 million Small Business Recovery Support offering support case workers and financial counselling to help operators recover and build more resilient businesses.
• $11.77 million Community Health and Wellbeing investment in human and social recovery to mitigate impacts of the disaster, with a focus on the vulnerable.
• $10.5 million Community Relief Fund Uplift to enable further immediate recovery and clean-up activities throughout impacted communities.
• $9.19 million Mental Health Recovery allowing people directly impacted by the disaster event to access a range of psychological support services.
• $3.087 million Primary Production Industry Support providing holistic support to primary producers to help them better prepare for severe weather.
• $2.85 million Legal Assistance Recovery funding for community legal and case management services including support with insurance, housing and finances.
• $1 million Monitoring and Evaluation funding to ensure funding and assistance packages are achieving the intended recovery and resilience objectives. 

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said the new packages would ensure South East Queensland’s recovery from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. 

“This investment builds on the substantial assistance provided to South East Queensland communities over the past month,” Minister McBain said. 

“This includes more than $126 million in DRFA Personal Hardship Assistance to residents, and $80 million in Disaster Recovery Grants for small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits.