The capital isn’t immune to storm damage, so it pays to be prepared. Photo: ESA.
Canberra will benefit from the latest round of Federal Government grants for disaster preparedness projects as the bushfire, floods and severe weather season approaches.
Another $200 million is being channelled into communities across Australia to better prepare them for severe weather events.
The ACT is among the recipients of the disaster-ready grants, with $421,240 in Commonwealth funding going towards the ACT’s Flash Flood Warning System.
The system uses flood data and modelling to provide timely, location-specific, relevant warnings to the community.
The Ginninderra, Jerrabomberra, and Woolshed Creek catchment flood studies receive $652,605 in federal funding, while a project to build pharmacy preparedness for natural disasters in the ACT receives $176,950.
There are other projects in the ACT being boosted with federal money, and the territory also benefits from funding for the nationwide support project Outdoors Under Pressure.
The Canberra Region Joint Organisation Disaster Adaptation Preparedness Support Program, which covers Bega Valley, Eurobodalla, Goulburn Mulwaree, Hilltops, Queanbeyan-Palerang, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Wagga Wagga, Wingecarribee, Yass Valley, gets $899,267.
In fact, there are 96 projects around the country that have been successful through round three of the Federal Government’s $1 billion, five-year Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).
One example of projects in other states includes one in the Riverina, where a massive $14,174,095 in Commonwealth funding is directed to the Narrandera Urban Stormwater Upgrade to mitigate the impacts of 1 in 100-year flood events.
Commonwealth funding for the Palm Island Cyclone Shelter – an 800-person cyclone shelter and evacuation centre in Queensland – will total $14,620,000.
Combined with contributions from states, territories, and other partners, total funding for the 96 projects nationwide will amount to nearly $350 million.
Funding will be allocated towards projects that implement measures to reduce bushfire risks, construct flood protection infrastructure, build cyclone shelters, enhance flood resilience, and deploy advanced warning systems for natural hazards.
Through this latest round of the DRF, more than $138 million will be invested in 41 (of the 96) infrastructure projects, with construction starting immediately.
Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said all the projects being funded are set to safeguard Australian communities and help build resilience as natural disasters become more frequent and intense.
“Australians are no strangers to the floods, bushfires, and cyclones that impact us year-on-year,” the minister said.
“That’s why the Albanese Government established the Disaster Ready Fund, providing up to $1 billion over five years.
“Round three will benefit all 538 local government areas across all states and territories. From cyclone shelters on Palm Island to flood mitigation planning for Launceston.
“Crucially, round three brings our investment to make Australia more resilient through the DRF to $600 million – and I’d like to thank many of the project proponents for matching our funding.”
This latest investment builds on the two previous rounds of the DRF, with $400 million in Australian Government funding already awarded to more than 350 projects.
Almost half of those projects are in pre-construction or construction and delivery phase, with 43 already nearing completion or already complete.
The minister said that, in addition to Commonwealth funding and that from state and territory governments, the private and non-government sectors are also contributing to some projects.
“In this round alone, the Federal Government is investing $200 million, but that increases to $350 million when we have states and territories, a range of other organisations that are also contributing dollars to a range of funds as well,” Ms McBain said.
“This is over $6 million to Numurkah to build flood levies in a town that has been ravaged before.
“It’s $14 million to build stormwater resilience in Narrandera and $14.5 million to build a cyclone shelter on Palm Island.
“These are substantial investments where we have worked with councils, with state and territory governments and a range of not-for-profits as well, to make sure we are dealing with the issues that are on the ground right now and investing in the risk reduction and preparedness for our communities.”
The full list of successful projects supported by DRF Round Three is available on the Disaster Ready Fund website.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
