Published Tuesday, 04 November, 2008 at 05:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Whitsunday council receives $17.3 million in disaster assistance
Whitsunday Regional Council will receive more than $17.3 million in disaster assistance following monsoonal rain and flooding that affected the area in February and March 2008.
Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said the floodwaters had caused significant damage to the council’s road network.
“The flooding sustained in the region severely affected a large number of roads in Whitsunday and it took a huge effort to get them back in operational condition,” Ms Jarratt said.
“Many of the damaged roads required hundreds of thousands of dollars of restoration works each, while some even topped the million dollar mark.”
Ms Jarratt said the major works undertaken involved gravelling bitumen and concrete repairs at: Mount Wyatt Road (works worth $1,266,060), Normanby Road ($823,305); Rutherford Road ($946,848), Santa Barbara Parade ($913,568), Woodlands Road ($1,345,976) and Inverdon Road ($750,447).
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the cost of the repair works was well beyond the council’s financial capability.
“That is why the State and Commonwealth governments have made $17,347,240 in funding available. Whitsunday Regional Council has also played its part by contributing $169,000 towards the repair costs,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the funding was provided through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements program, a joint State and Commonwealth initiative.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Whitsunday Electorate Office 4945 3343
Member for Whitsunday Jan Jarratt said the floodwaters had caused significant damage to the council’s road network.
“The flooding sustained in the region severely affected a large number of roads in Whitsunday and it took a huge effort to get them back in operational condition,” Ms Jarratt said.
“Many of the damaged roads required hundreds of thousands of dollars of restoration works each, while some even topped the million dollar mark.”
Ms Jarratt said the major works undertaken involved gravelling bitumen and concrete repairs at: Mount Wyatt Road (works worth $1,266,060), Normanby Road ($823,305); Rutherford Road ($946,848), Santa Barbara Parade ($913,568), Woodlands Road ($1,345,976) and Inverdon Road ($750,447).
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said the cost of the repair works was well beyond the council’s financial capability.
“That is why the State and Commonwealth governments have made $17,347,240 in funding available. Whitsunday Regional Council has also played its part by contributing $169,000 towards the repair costs,” he said.
Mr Pitt said the funding was provided through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements program, a joint State and Commonwealth initiative.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Whitsunday Electorate Office 4945 3343