DISASTER ASSISTANCE ACTIVATED AS RAINFALL AND FLOODING UNFOLDS ACROSS QUEENSLAND’S SOUTH-EAST

Disaster assistance has been swiftly activated for the Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Noosa, North Burnett, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba Local Government Areas in response to heavy rainfall and flooding that continues to unfold across Queensland’s south-east.

Assistance will be made available to cover the cost of the massive clean-up efforts expected for these 10 council areas through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said even as the rain continues to fall it is important for these local councils to know assistance is there to ensure they can recover from this latest flooding event in Queensland as quickly as possible, once floodwaters recede.

“This rain event is still unfolding but we already know the severe flooding has sadly resulted in the loss of life and people being evacuated from their homes and businesses,” Minister McKenzie said.

“For the second time in as many months, south-east Queensland finds itself at the centre of another unfolding emergency, with many roads and bridges in the region already submerged.

“Today’s announcement means funding is there for these councils to help them with the clean-up that will be required when the floodwaters recede. It will also go towards repairing roads and other vital public infrastructure damaged by the floods in the hardest hit regions of Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba.

“The Australian and Queensland governments will continue to monitor this developing flooding event and will work with all impacted communities to ensure they all have the appropriate level of support they need so they can get back on their feet as soon as possible,” she said.

Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said this latest flood has inundated areas that have only just seen floodwaters go down from last month’s floods. 

“After raining solidly all week, a coastal trough moved onshore on Thursday after building over the ocean, bringing isolated falls of 423mm in just three hours,” he said.

“The Mary River at Gympie is set to reach one of its highest ever flood-peaks and there are still emergency alerts for flash flooding across much of Southern Queensland.

“I urge all communities to take care and be mindful of the dangers that lurk just beneath the surface of the floodwaters.

“Unfortunately, we have already seen people lose their lives in these floods and it’s a tragic reminder to all Queenslanders that if it’s flooded, forget it.

“As the situation continues to unfold, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) continues to work closely with all local government areas impacted by this event, to ensure they too receive the support they need.

“The activation of this DRFA assistance for Fraser Coast, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Noosa, North Burnett, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba councils is the first for this event but we stand ready to extend assistance to ensure all affected communities receive all the support the need to recover, once they’ve had an opportunity to assess the impacts.”

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the QRA’s website: www.qra.qld.gov.au   

Media Contacts:

Minister McKenzie: David Edghill 0477 417 516

Minister Ryan: Phil Willmington 0411 535 180