DISASTER ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE IN RESPONSE TO WESTERN QUEENSLAND THUNDERSTORMS

Disaster assistance has been made available to speed up the recovery of communities in Western Queensland impacted by extreme rainfall leading up to, and continuing throughout, the Christmas period.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said activation of the DRFA will provide financial support for Barcaldine Regional Council, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Longreach Regional Council and Winton Shire Council to carry out counter disaster operations as well as restoring essential public assets damaged by the event.

“A series of severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and heavy rainfall delivered destructive flash flooding throughout the region from 21 - 30 December 2020,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This resulted in closed roads and damage to essential public assets, triggering a multi-agency response from local governments, the State Emergency Service and Queensland Police Service.

“The DRFA assistance announced today will ensure these councils can cover the costs associated with the clean-up and restoration,” he said.

Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said the assistance was there to help those communities impacted get back on the road to recovery sooner.

“Even though the rain is welcome in this drought-impacted region, floods can cause an enormous amount of havoc and destruction,” Minister Ryan said.

“The impacted councils are being supported through the DRFA with operations aimed at protecting the general public as well as restoring assets such as roads and bridges impacted by the event.

“Even as Ex-Tropical Cyclone Imogen continues to dump rain across much of Far North Queensland, the Queensland and Australian governments are working closely to ensure no disaster impacted community, including those in the Central West, is left to manage disaster clean up on their own.

“We are constantly monitoring the situation across Queensland as the 2020-21 disaster season continues and will work closely with the Commonwealth to support other communities as required,” he said.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au.  

Media Contacts:
Minister Littleproud: Douglas Ferguson, 0455 448 985
Minister Ryan: Phil Wilmington 0411 535 180