DISASTER ASSISTANCE EXTENDED TO MORE COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY EX-TROPICAL CYCLONE IMOGEN

Disaster assistance is now available for more local government areas in northern Queensland impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Imogen.

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

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said the DRFA assistance would aid impacted council areas in local recovery following the flooding brought on by ex-Tropical Cyclone Imogen.

“Although Tropical Cyclone Imogen was downgraded to a Tropical Low soon after it crossed the coast on 3 January, that didn’t stop its excessive rainfall inundating much of North Queensland as it slowly made its way down the coast,” Minister Littleproud said.

“There will be extensive work that needs to be done repairing significant damage to roads, businesses and residential properties, and this assistance will help impacted communities get back on their feet.

“Financial assistance is now available for Burke, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Cook, Hinchinbrook, Kowanyama, Mareeba, Palm Island, Tablelands and Whitsunday to help fund counter disaster operations and restore public infrastructure damaged by the ex-Tropical Cyclone.

“Assistance is also available for Burdekin Shire Council and Townsville City Council to deal with their clean-up efforts from Imogen, which thankfully was nowhere near as destructive as the 2019 floods.”

Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said the severe weather system had caused damage across the northern regions of our state.

“Having brought destructive winds and heavy rain across the Gulf of Carpentaria, Cyclone Imogen proceeded to bring that flooding rainfall across a wide area from Innisfail to Airlie Beach, even cutting the Bruce Highway on Tuesday, although thankfully it has since reopened,” Minister Ryan said.

“These floods damaged essential public assets, such as roads and bridges, and isolated many communities who once again have had to deal with another wetter than usual wet season.

"This funding will help these local government areas alleviate the cost of counter-disaster operations including sand-bagging, tree clearing and repairing damage to the roads.

“The Commonwealth and Queensland governments will continue to work together to support the long-term recovery of communities impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Imogen.”

DRFA assistance is now available in 16 local government areas in northern and far north Queensland in response to Cyclone Imogen: Burdekin, Burke, Carpentaria, Cassowary Coast, Charters Towers, Cook, Croydon, Etheridge, Hinchinbrook, Kowanyama, Mareeba, Mornington, Palm Island, Tablelands, Townsville and Whitsunday.

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.  

ENDS
Minister Littleproud: Douglas Ferguson, 0455 448 985
Minister Ryan: Phil Willmington, 0411 535 180