The Department of State Development has announced projects worth $9.6 million were to be built to improve local disaster resilience and reduce risks for communities from the Torres Strait to the Gold Coast.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud said the 49 projects were being delivered through the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF), a joint initiative of the Australian and Queensland Governments.
“This funding is an important part of our whole community effort to create resilient regions across Queensland and the country,” Mr Littleproud said.
“In the past decade Queensland has seen more than 80 significant natural disaster events including devastating floods, catastrophic bushfires, severe tropical cyclones, and now COVID-19.”
He said that while there was no way to stop disasters from impacting the State, by allocating funds for resilience and risk reduction the Government could ensure Queenslanders were better prepared for the future.
Examples of projects being funded through QRRRF include floodway monitoring and warning systems for Balonne Shire Council and Toowoomba Regional Council, bushfire mitigation works on Palm Island and severe wind hazard assessment for South-East Queensland.
Treasurer and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Cameron Dick said the QRRRF announcement added to the $3.5 million funded directly by the State Government last month.
“This $9.6 million joint funding extends support through the QRRRF program to 35 Councils, three regional organisations of Councils, two State front-line Agencies, a non-profit community organisation and Energy Queensland,” Mr Dick said.
A list of projects jointly funded with the Commonwealth under the QRRRF program can be accessed from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority at this PS News link.
