$26 million for Queensland waterways flood recovery

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE

SENATOR THE HON MURRAY WATT

MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY

MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

THE HON LEANNE LINARD MP

MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND GREAT BARRIER REEF,

MINISTER FOR SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

• The Albanese and Miles Governments are jointly funding 43 riverine rehabilitation projects across areas impacted by the 2022 severe floods.
• Projects will stabilise banks to minimise erosion, establish aquatic habitat and supplement riparian zones with vegetation plantings for longer term resilience.
• These works will improve water quality and biodiversity and increase resilience of the local natural environment to better withstand future severe weather events.
• These projects will also support local jobs over the next three years in regions across Queensland.

Natural resource management groups and bulk water utilities across South East Queensland, Wide Bay and Central Queensland will share in more than $26 million to support crucial recovery works for waterways, gullies and riverbanks impacted by the severe 2022 floods.

Jointly funded by the Albanese and Miles Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the funding supports repairs to flood-damaged riverine, wetland and riparian environments as part of Stage 2 of the Riverine Recovery Program.

The funding will support locally-led projects to repair waterways that are home to some of Queensland’s threatened and iconic protected aquatic species including the Mary River turtle, Mary River Cod and the Australian lungfish.

Works will be carried out at sites along many impacted waterways across the state including:

• Flinders River flowing to the Gulf of Carpentaria;
• Fitzroy River, West Hill Creek, Mary River and tributaries flowing to the southern Great Barrier Reef;
• North Pine River, Logan River, Lockyer Creek, Bremer River, Brisbane River and Kedron Brook flowing to Moreton Bay; and
• Gowrie Creek in the Murray Darling River system; and Nerang River and Tallebudgera Creek on the Gold Coast.

A full list of successful projects is available here.

These projects will involve collaboration and coordination with neighbouring landholders and community groups to reprofile impacted riverbanks using nature-based solutions including timber ‘pile fields’ and replanted vegetation.

The pile fields slow water flow and divert water away from the toe of the banks giving the newly planted vegetation time to establish and grow while preventing further erosion.

Implementing bank repair and stabilisation measures for erosion control, as well as restoring native vegetation, will not only bring the flood-affected areas back to their former state, but also strengthen the resilience of the waterways and banks, ensuring better protection against future disasters.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt:

“The multiple flooding events that impacted South East Queensland in 2022 caused significant damage to valuable waterways resulting in streambank erosion and large losses of vegetation.

“Without intervention, these waterways may never recover and could fail to support Queensland’s protected aquatic species.

“These project aren’t just about rebuilding riverbanks, they will increase biodiversity to support the conservation of Queensland's threatened species and protect the environment for future generations.

"These projects will also need boots on the ground to deliver, meaning more local employment opportunities on offer across these regions over the next three years.” 

Quotes attributable to the Queensland Minister for the Environment and Great Barrier Reef, Minister for Science and Innovation, Leanne Linard:

"With these waterways feeding into some of Queensland’s most valuable marine environments including Moreton Bay and the Southern Great Barrier Reef, it’s crucial that we support our natural areas to recover and stand strong against future floods.

“Stage one of the Riverine Recovery Program supported resource management organisations to build a thorough understanding of the work that is needed to help impacted waterways recover from the devastating 2022 floods.

"Now these groups will use that insight to shape this important work, and the Queensland Government is proud to work with the Australian Government to get the much-needed boots on the ground to deliver these projects.”

Further information:

Information on other disaster recovery initiatives can be found on the National Emergency Management Agency’s website and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Minister Watt’s office: Tali Eley 0499 770 772

Minister Linard’s office: Scott Chandler (07) 3719 7339