Published Thursday, 27 December, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Whitsunday Shire gets $320,000 in disaster funding
Whitsunday Shire Council will receive a grant of $323,794 towards the cost of repairing local roads damaged by flooding in January and February this year.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt announced details of the grant today under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements program.
“Flooding earlier this year caused considerable damage to the shire’s road system and it was important that the repairs took place as soon as possible,” Mr Pitt said.
“Whitsunday Shire covers an area of almost 2680 square kilometres in north Queensland and there was considerable damage to local roads and infrastructure from the flooding,” Mr Pitt said.
“The repair costs were beyond the council’s capabilities, which is why the Queensland and Commonwealth governments have stepped in to help out.”
Mr Pitt said Whitsunday Shire Council would receive $185,081 to repair submergence damage and $138,713 to repair road-base saturation damage to roads throughout the shire.
“Numerous local roads across the shire were affected, with the worst hit including Dingo Beach Road, Glen Isla Road, Gregory River road and the Andromachie River Bridge,” he said.
“In regional communities, road systems are a community lifeline, so it was important that these repair works took place as quickly as possible so residents could go about their daily lives.”
Mr Pitt said it was important that ratepayers were not left with the repair bill for damaged council assets and emergency works after natural disasters.
“Whitsunday Shire Council has also contributed $107,931 towards the repair works,” he said.
The funding has been provided under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements program, a joint State and Commonwealth initiative.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt announced details of the grant today under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements program.
“Flooding earlier this year caused considerable damage to the shire’s road system and it was important that the repairs took place as soon as possible,” Mr Pitt said.
“Whitsunday Shire covers an area of almost 2680 square kilometres in north Queensland and there was considerable damage to local roads and infrastructure from the flooding,” Mr Pitt said.
“The repair costs were beyond the council’s capabilities, which is why the Queensland and Commonwealth governments have stepped in to help out.”
Mr Pitt said Whitsunday Shire Council would receive $185,081 to repair submergence damage and $138,713 to repair road-base saturation damage to roads throughout the shire.
“Numerous local roads across the shire were affected, with the worst hit including Dingo Beach Road, Glen Isla Road, Gregory River road and the Andromachie River Bridge,” he said.
“In regional communities, road systems are a community lifeline, so it was important that these repair works took place as quickly as possible so residents could go about their daily lives.”
Mr Pitt said it was important that ratepayers were not left with the repair bill for damaged council assets and emergency works after natural disasters.
“Whitsunday Shire Council has also contributed $107,931 towards the repair works,” he said.
The funding has been provided under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements program, a joint State and Commonwealth initiative.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819