DISASTER ASSISTANCE EXTENDED TO ADDITIONAL COUNCILS FOLLOWING NORTHERN AND CENTRAL-WESTERN QUEENSLAND FLOODS

Disaster assistance has been extended to the three Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Charters Towers, Flinders and Richmond following the intense rainfall and flooding throughout Northern and Central-Western Queensland over the past month.

The assistance is made possible through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and will help these councils to cover counter-disaster operations, such as clean-up and sandbagging, and the cost to repair essential public infrastructure damaged during the event between 21 April and 12 May 2022.

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Bridget McKenzie, said the Australian Government would always stand with Queenslanders after a natural disaster.

“The DRFA extension to Charters Towers, Flinders and Richmond LGAs will assist the communities to recover from the effects of the recent deluge. We will continue to work with the Queensland Government to ensure that people affected receive the support they need,” Minister McKenzie said. 

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said, “The assistance would help more impacted communities recover from this extreme weather event.

"Northern and Central-Western Queensland experienced multiple days of heavy rain in late April 22 that damaged public infrastructure and caused disruption to the local communities,” he said.

“In mid-May of 2022 another severe weather event rolled through, causing further damage and impacted more communities in Central Queensland.

“By extending the DRFA assistance to Charters Towers, Flinders and Richmond, we are ensuring these communities will receive the financial support they need to cover the costs of the clean-up and counter-disaster operations such as sandbagging, in addition to the repair of essential public infrastructure such as roads.”

Minister Ryan said, “Seventeen Local Government Areas had now been activated for DRFA assistance in response to the Northern and Central-Western Queensland rainfall and flooding event from 21 April – 12 May.

“This latest DRFA activation extension will provide certainty to councils so they know they will be reimbursed for the eligible clean-up activities and reconstruction costs they incur as they help their communities recover,” he said.

“This disaster season has been unusually long, with extreme rainfall impacting our state well into what would normally be Queensland’s dry season.

“Queensland has now experienced eight natural disasters in 2021-22 that have necessitated the activation of DRFA assistance.

“But no matter how many disasters we face our communities can be assured we will continue to work with them to provide all available support to assist with their recovery.”

In response to the Northern and Central-Western Queensland rainfall and flooding event from 21 April – 12 May, DRFA assistance has already been activated for the following LGAs: Barcaldine Regional Council, Barcoo Regional Council, Blackall-Tambo Regional Council, Boulia Shire Council, Burdekin Shire Council, Charters Towers, Cloncurry Shire Council, Cook Shire Council, Douglas Shire Council, Flinders Shire Council, Hope Vale Aboriginal Shire Council, Longreach Regional Council, McKinlay Shire Council, Mornington Shire Council, Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, Richmond Shire Council and Winton Shire Council.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au    

Media contacts:

Minister McKenzie: David Edghill 0477 417 516

Minister Ryan's office: Ph: (07) 3035 8300