Published Tuesday, 02 September, 2008 at 09:55 AM

Minister for Natural Resources and Water and Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland
The Honourable Craig Wallace

MINISTER GIVES DON RIVER REPAIR WORK THE GO AHEAD

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace today announced he had approved the start of work to repair over $1.4 million in damage to flood protection and mitigation works on the Don River.

The Don River overflowed in eight places when one of the worst five or six floods in the past 100 years occurred early this year.

The overflows damaged the river improvement trust’s extensive system of flood mitigation works and scoured adjacent agricultural land in localised sites.

Mr Wallace, who is also the Minister Assisting the Premier in North Queensland, and Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt today announced the go-ahead for work to start on repairing the damage.

“The program of works proposed to me involves 14 individual projects costing some $1.4 million,” Mr Wallace said.

“While there are still some processes to be worked through to finalise the funding, the repair work should not be kept waiting.

“The majority of the remediation will involve the reinstatement and stabilisation of river banks,” Mr Wallace said.

Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said this restoration work would provide much needed relief for residents in Bowen and particularly in the Delta area.

“This announcement follows requests from Council and the community during an on-site meeting at Delta earlier this year,” Ms Jarratt said.

“I thank Minister Wallace for listening to concerns about the state of the Don River and taking action to ensure this work could progress.”

The floods early this year were declared a natural disaster, making the area eligible for funding under the State Government’s Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Assistance Program.

Under the Queensland Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements, the Department of Natural Resources and Water is responsible for administering natural disaster relief assistance for the restoration of river trust assets damaged by declared natural disasters.

The Don River Improvement Trust applied for assistance through those arrangements, proposing a $1, 481, 800 million program of work.

Media contact: Minister Wallace’s office, 3896 3688.