Published Tuesday, 04 November, 2008 at 05:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Flinders Shire Council receives $2.3 million in disaster funding
Flinders Shire Council will receive more than $2.3 million in funding to repair its damaged road network that occurred as the result of monsoonal flooding in January 2008.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said floodwaters had caused significant subsidence, resulting in damage to the council’s road infrastructure.
“The flooding that occurred across many parts of Queensland has caused considerable damage to the Flinders Shire Council’s local road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“Some of the $2.3 million will be used to restore the loss of gravel and formation scouring and silting at Prairie-Muttaburra Road ($233,530); restore the loss of gravel and formation scouring and the loss of the floodway concrete deck at Strathroy Road ($218,108); and to restore the loss of formation, gravel and rock at floodways on Old Muttaburra Road ($206,437).
“The reliance by regional communities on local infrastructure means that this type of damage has the potential to severely impact the regions businesses and livelihoods.
“Ratepayers would have been disadvantaged by the financial burden of this natural disaster if Flinders Shire Council was required to foot the bill.
“As a result, the State and Commonwealth governments have contributed $2,306,764, with the shire council contributing $50,000 towards the repair work.”
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
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt said floodwaters had caused significant subsidence, resulting in damage to the council’s road infrastructure.
“The flooding that occurred across many parts of Queensland has caused considerable damage to the Flinders Shire Council’s local road network,” Mr Pitt said.
“Some of the $2.3 million will be used to restore the loss of gravel and formation scouring and silting at Prairie-Muttaburra Road ($233,530); restore the loss of gravel and formation scouring and the loss of the floodway concrete deck at Strathroy Road ($218,108); and to restore the loss of formation, gravel and rock at floodways on Old Muttaburra Road ($206,437).
“The reliance by regional communities on local infrastructure means that this type of damage has the potential to severely impact the regions businesses and livelihoods.
“Ratepayers would have been disadvantaged by the financial burden of this natural disaster if Flinders Shire Council was required to foot the bill.
“As a result, the State and Commonwealth governments have contributed $2,306,764, with the shire council contributing $50,000 towards the repair work.”
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