JOINT STATE AND COMMONWEALTH DISASTER RELIEF ARRANGEMENTS APPROVED FOR SOUTH EAST RESIDENTS

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts has approved joint State and Commonwealth Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) following the storms and flooding across South East Queensland last week.

Mr Roberts said the estimated cost from the flooding has now reached levels that allow him to approve the joint State and Commonwealth disaster relief arrangements.

“These joint arrangements will help meet the cost of damage to Local and State Government assets, counter disaster operations, anddisaster relief assistance,” he said.

“Initial damage assessments indicate that $2.3 million worth of damage has occurred to Local and State Government assets across the region, including an estimated $1 million damage to Noosa Council, around $600,000 to Cooloola Council and Main Roads currently estimates around $500,000 to the road network in the area.”

Mr Roberts said the disaster relief measures come into effect immediately and provide a mechanism for cost sharing arrangements between local Councils, the Queensland Government, and the Commonwealth Government.

“These joint disaster relief arrangements provide for the Commonwealth and State to cost share a range of pre-agreed disaster relief measures immediately when a need has been established,” he said.

Media contact: Tim Shipstone 07 3247 8194, 0409 620 571.

Brendan Connell 07 3247 8992, 0437 837 976

Local Government areas covered by the arrangements include: Biggenden Shire Council, Boonah Shire Council, Brisbane City Council, Bundaberg City Council, Burnett Shire Council, Caboolture Shire Council, Caloundra City Council, Cherbourg Aboriginal Council, Cooloola Shire Council, Esk Shire Council, Gold Coast City Council, Hervey Bay City Council, Ipswich City Council, Isis Shire Council, Kilkivan Shire Council, Kilcoy Shire Council, Kingaroy Shire Council, Laidley Shire Council, Logan City Council, Maroochy Shire Council, Maryborough City Council, Murgon Shire Council, Nanango Shire Council, Noosa Shire Council, Pine Rivers Shire Council, Redcliffe City Council, Redland Shire Council, Tiaro Shire Council, Woocoo Shire Council