Central Highlands receives $2.7 million in disaster funding

Central Highlands Regional Council will receive an extra $2,734,752 in funding to repair parts of its road network that were damaged 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 Central Highlands Regional Council local road network,” Mr Pitt said.

“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.”

Mr Pitt said the funding included $315,258 for repairs to Emerald streets, $294,667 for repairs to Withersfields Road and $217,408 for repairs to Rutland Road.

“Ratepayers would have been disadvantaged by the financial burden of this natural disaster if Central Highlands Regional Council was required to foot the bill,” he said.

“As a result, the State and Commonwealth governments have contributed $2,734,752 with the regional council contributing $169,000 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