New $20 million fund to restore community recreational assets

Published Thursday, 20 June, 2019 at 03:30 PM

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Cameron Dick

JOINT STATEMENT

Federal Minister for Water Resources, Drought, Rural Finance, Natural Disaster and Emergency Management the Hon. David Littleproud MP

Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick

Communities impacted by the North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough earlier this year will receive $20 million to clean up and repair damaged community assets and facilities.

The Clean-up and Repair of Community Recreational Assets and Facilities Program is part of a $242 million extraordinary assistance package jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Federal Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the funding would allow not-for-profits, local governments and state agencies to restore community assets that fall outside existing recovery programs.

“This funding goes beyond repairing roads and bridges – it helps to restore sports fields, parks and clubs,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Quickly repairing these recreational facilities draws communities back together.

“Community spirit and solidarity are key during recovery from these events, and meeting at the local sports ground to participate, spectate or just have a barbecue is a big part of that.”

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the funding would go a long way towards helping communities return to business as usual post-floods.

“The flooding we saw earlier this year has had a huge impact on many communities in our state’s north,” Mr Dick said.

“The Commonwealth and Queensland Governments recognise this, and we also acknowledge the uncertainty residents now face trying to re-establish community bonds and networks.

“This $20 million will help to restore that social fabric in our impacted communities, whether that’s Saturday morning sports with the kids or a family barbeque down at the park.

“These interactions and connections are so important, and this fund will help bring parks and playing fields back to life, including works to amenities, walking paths, picnic areas and access points.”

The program includes funding for sporting clubs and assets identified as damaged in the wake of the monsoon trough, and that have undergone assessment by the Department of Housing and Public Works.

Further information about eligibility and expression-of-interest applications for local governments and state agencies can be found via Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s Community Assets Program webpage.

Deadline for expressions of interest is 19 July 2019.

ENDS

Media contacts:

  • Les White 0409 805 122 (Minister Littleproud)
  • Ben Doyle 0400 775 561 (Minister Dick)