The state government said western and north west Queensland communities will become more resilient to natural disasters announcing 10 local councils and one non-government organisation will share in more than $1.7 million of disaster mitigation funding.
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A total of 14 projects will be funded in the region through Round 1 of the four-round $38 million Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund.
Works include road and drainage improvements, switchboard upgrades, and the construction of new and replacement floodways, while emergency generators will be introduced at select disaster coordination centres.
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said Queenslanders are no strangers to natural disasters and are regularly impacted by monsoonal flooding and cyclones.
"After overcoming many severe weather events, like the widespread flooding seen across western Queensland earlier this year, our state has asserted itself as a nation-leader when it comes to resilience-building measures," Mr Dick said.
"With this funding, communities throughout our western region will be able to invest in smart solutions before disaster strikes.
"Queensland has just emerged from one of the most destructive weather periods in its history, with 11 disaster events over six months impacting 61 of our 77 councils.
"By increasing our state's disaster resilience we're not only protecting our communities from damage and reducing future restoration costs, we're also improving public safety."
Mr Dick said the QDRF will be delivered annually across four rounds as Queensland works towards becoming the most disaster-resilient state in Australia.
"As a state, we need to do everything we can to stand strong against extreme weather events," he said.
"This is a significant investment in our future, with the added benefit of creating more jobs for regional Queensland."
Funding for these projects will be administered by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Australia's only permanent disaster recovery agency.
The QDRF aligns with the Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience.
Projects approved in western Queensland include:
- Boulia Shire Council
o Emergency generator for disaster coordination centre
- Bulloo Shire Council
o Burke and Wills Bridge approaches - reconstruction, road pavement and drainage improvements
- Cloncurry Shire Council
o Staging shed for community recovery activities
o Survival kit
- Diamantina Shire Council
o Birdsville Hall switchboard upgrade
- Longreach Regional Council
o Upgrading the existing Ilfracombe evacuation centre
o Disaster management coordination centre improvements
- Winton Shire Council
o Old Landsborough Highway replace concrete floodway
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Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
