Published Friday, 08 December, 2006 at 02:15 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Local Government, Planning and Sport
The Honourable Andrew Fraser
STATE GOVERNMENT MOVES TOP PROTECT COASTAL PROPERTY IN FAR NORTH
The Queensland Government will bring forward a $1 million funding program to better prepare coastal communities in Far North Queensland to deal with the threats to property and infrastructure caused by the ravages of tropical cyclones.
Premier Peter Beattie and Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser today announced the funding initiative at the 2006 cyclone Summit Living with Cyclones – Queensland prepared in Cairns.
Mr Beattie said the funding would be made available to local governments in cyclone prone areas to investigate and prepare long term shoreline erosion management plans for their shires.
“Cyclone Larry really highlighted to everybody just how much damage severe storms can cause to our coastal roads, foreshores and beaches,” Mr Beattie said.
“And if this funding can help to prevent the sort of damage caused by that cyclone and any future cyclones to hit the region then it will be money well spent.”
Mr Beattie said the funding would be allocated from the Government’s Environmental Infrastructure Program which originally was not due to be introduced until July 2008.
He said the Environmental Infrastructure Program was a three year, $60 million program designed to provide councils with subsidies of up to 50 per cent to address a range of environmental infrastructure needs across Queensland.
“This can be anything from remediation of contaminated lands and storm water management to beach and river erosion works,” Mr Beattie said.
Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser said cyclones were an ever present danger to communities in the Far North.
“So it makes good sense to bring forward the first $1 million of this funding and make it available for shoreline erosion management,” Mr Fraser said.
“The funding will give local governments the support they need now to do the necessary planning to hopefully avoid the pain and expense of having to restore coastal assets.
“In the past some councils had found it very difficult to do the necessary planning work due to a lack of sufficient resources and a concise set of generic guidelines necessary to direct development of plans.
He said the Environmental Protection Agency has recently developed generic guidelines and minimum requirements to assist councils in developing shoreline erosion management plans.
“This, coupled with the early release of this funding, will mean that councils will have access to the resources they need to get on with the job.’”
Councils would be invited to apply for the funding early in 2007.
Media Contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister Fraser’s office - Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874
8 December 2006
Premier Peter Beattie and Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser today announced the funding initiative at the 2006 cyclone Summit Living with Cyclones – Queensland prepared in Cairns.
Mr Beattie said the funding would be made available to local governments in cyclone prone areas to investigate and prepare long term shoreline erosion management plans for their shires.
“Cyclone Larry really highlighted to everybody just how much damage severe storms can cause to our coastal roads, foreshores and beaches,” Mr Beattie said.
“And if this funding can help to prevent the sort of damage caused by that cyclone and any future cyclones to hit the region then it will be money well spent.”
Mr Beattie said the funding would be allocated from the Government’s Environmental Infrastructure Program which originally was not due to be introduced until July 2008.
He said the Environmental Infrastructure Program was a three year, $60 million program designed to provide councils with subsidies of up to 50 per cent to address a range of environmental infrastructure needs across Queensland.
“This can be anything from remediation of contaminated lands and storm water management to beach and river erosion works,” Mr Beattie said.
Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser said cyclones were an ever present danger to communities in the Far North.
“So it makes good sense to bring forward the first $1 million of this funding and make it available for shoreline erosion management,” Mr Fraser said.
“The funding will give local governments the support they need now to do the necessary planning to hopefully avoid the pain and expense of having to restore coastal assets.
“In the past some councils had found it very difficult to do the necessary planning work due to a lack of sufficient resources and a concise set of generic guidelines necessary to direct development of plans.
He said the Environmental Protection Agency has recently developed generic guidelines and minimum requirements to assist councils in developing shoreline erosion management plans.
“This, coupled with the early release of this funding, will mean that councils will have access to the resources they need to get on with the job.’”
Councils would be invited to apply for the funding early in 2007.
Media Contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister Fraser’s office - Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874
8 December 2006