Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced State Recovery Coordinator Major General (retired) Stuart Smith has had his role extended to head up the flood recovery effort in Queensland.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority will provide support to the State Recovery Coordinator as he works closely with local councils to identify the critical works needed to help Queensland communities recover.

Disaster assistance has been extended for communities in Burdekin, Cairns, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Townsville and Whitsunday regions due to record-breaking monsoonal floods still impacting North and Far North Queensland.

Disaster assistance has been made available for communities in North and Far North Queensland impacted by severe weather and flooding brought on by Tropical Cyclones Penny and Owen in December and early January.

Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).