Flood Risk Management Program (FRMP) - Funding for councils (2021-22)

(QRA Reference: CM DOC/23/3403, Last updated 17/11/2023)

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority administers the program.

Currently, Work Package 3 is comprised of $4 million for priority state projects and $18.25 million for Council led projects. 

The program has received an additional $18 million in funding for Work Package 2 and Work Package 3. $6 million is for Work Package 2 and $12 million is for Work Package 3. Of this $12 million, $4.2 million is for State led projects and $7.8 million is for Council led projects. 

As at June 2024, there are thirty-nine (39) eligible councils activated following the eligible events, these Councils are listed below.  For any updates to the activation listings refer to: https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/disaster-funding-activations/activations   

The extra-ordinary DRFA funding is to support recovery and resilience for the 39 councils activated under the following 2021-2022 disaster events:

• Central, Southern and Western Queensland Rainfall and Flooding, 10 November - 3 December 2021
• Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth, 29 December 2021 -10 January 2022
• South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding, 22 February - 5 April 2022
• Southern Queensland Flooding, 6 May – 20 May 2022

Key documents include:

1. 2021-2022 Flood Risk Management Program Work Package 3 Guideline published at  https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/frmp-2021-22-wp3 ; and
2. 2021-2022 Flood Risk Management Program Work Package 3 Application Form - sent directly to all eligible councils.

Application for funding will be undertaken by each council using the provided form. Each council is to provide a single form, containing all projects they wish to submit for consideration. Each project must be assigned a priority by the applicant council.

Following the close of the applications, the QRA will evaluate the applications and award successful projects.

Round 2 applications are to remain open until 13 August 2024.

Applicants can apply using the 2021-2022 DRFA Flood Risk Management Work Package 3 Application Form available at https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/frmp-2021-22-wp3   

No. 

Projects are limited to the following categories:

• Flood studies including data collection 
• Flood Risk Management studies and plans
• Flood Warning Intelligence Systems and plans

No.  Flood Warning assets will not be funded under this program

No.  There is a separate package (Work Package 2) covering the acquisition of LiDAR, and development of floor level databases to be delivered by the Department of Resources in collaboration with QRA. 

As time will be important for the second round of funding applications. Councils are advised to consider applying for projects which are not dependent on the delivery of other inputs such as LiDAR. 

LiDAR captured will be targeted based on known areas with insufficient definition, accuracy, coverage or the age of the existing dataset. QRA will liaise with the Department of Resources and Councils to identify areas for LiDAR capture. Areas identified for LiDAR capture as part of the additional $6 million will not be linked to approved projects. 

LiDAR and flood level database information acquired under Work Package 2 will be released to applicable councils free of charge. 

It is important to note that the WP 3 application form incorporates specific questions on LiDAR data sets available across the proposed project areas.  The answers to these questions will assist in ensuring projects are not dependent on LiDAR. 

No.  Funding is limited to the feasibility assessment of structural mitigation measures. 

The program has a primary focus of enhancing preparedness, resilience and recovery across the activated Local Government Areas in the context of river, creek and overland flood risk. However, projects that achieve this, as well as addressing the impact of drought/ pandemic, are considered eligible. 

The is no cap on funding for each council.  However, to inform the order of magnitude of projects, councils should consider that the additional $7.8 million in funds available under this package is to be distributed across the applicants from the thirty-nine (39) Queensland councils declared in the eligible events of the 2021-2022 season

Applicants may apply for multiple projects using a single application form for your LGA. Projects need to be prioritised by council as part of the submission.   

If an applicant submits multiple projects, the priority given to each project must be identified. This is indicated in the Application Form. Should the funding round be oversubscribed, the QRA may limit assessment to projects assigned with the highest priority within each LGA.

Yes. 

The QRA will consider funding of studies across LGA boundaries.  Where priority for a catchment study spans more than one council LGA areas then the priority of the project will be increased. 

No. When claiming reimbursement of expenditure, the amount to be lodged must be the GST exclusive actual cost incurred. Depending on an applicant’s GST status, QRA may gross up the grant amount to include GST. 

No. There is no fixed or minimum co-contribution, and this can be an in-kind co-contribution. The amount of the applicant’s co-contribution and the surety of this co-contribution are considered during the process. 

The Peer Review process will be more formal and provide input at project scope stage and designated review points through project delivery.

Peer review will be a mandatory requirement of flood studies, floodplain risk management studies and plans (including mitigation only studies) and generation of localised rainfall intensity-duration-frequency (IFD) data.

Peer review points will be agreed with the appointed peer reviewer. It is expected there will be at least two to three review points at key points throughout the project and prior to project finalisation.

Projects such as flood warning intelligence, dashboard development or updates and community-based action plans will not require peer review, however Councils are welcome to opt into a peer review process if desired.

The peer review requirements are summarised in the table below.

Council are required to share project outputs with the State in line with the Queensland Flood Risk Management Framework. Upon completion of projects, all reporting and generated digital datasets are to be made available to the QRA and will be licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) 4.0 International licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit: http://www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The current DRFA funding requires projects to be completed by 30 June 2026.

Project acquittal reports are due within three months of the end of the financial year in which the project is completed, i.e.

• for projects completed in the 2023-24 financial year, the project acquittal report is due by 30 September 2024
• for projects completed in the 2024-25 financial year, the project acquittal report is due by 30 September 2025
• for projects completed in the 2025-26 financial year, the project acquittal report is due by 30 September 2026. 

Progress reports are required monthly throughout the delivery period until project completion. All reporting requirements are set out in the Project Funding Schedule/Agreement for successful projects. 

Successful applicants are responsible for any expenditure over the approved amount. 

Successful applicants need to ensure preparedness, resilience and recovery outcomes are achieved as per the approved scope. Where a project does not deliver all the approved outcomes, then the project funding may be reduced based on the undelivered scope. 

Unspent funds will be returned to the program and may be reallocated to other projects. 

QRA may consult with relevant agencies and/or partners for review and/or endorsement of projects. The QRA CEO provides final project approval.

This is the second round of funding under this program and will open officially on the 1 July 2024. This is the final round of funding under this program

In the event of over subscription to this program, projects across the eligible LGA will be prioritised by risk, to ensure outcomes are maximised. 

Applicants notified of funding approval in August 2024

For projects approved for funding through this second round of applications, procurement can start as soon as Councils are notified of funding approval. This will be August 2024.

More information can be found at https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/frmp-2021-22-wp3 

The QRA have dedicated resources available to support Councils limited by capacity or capability to identify suitable projects for assessment under this program.  Please contact floodteam@qra.qld.gov.au if in need of support or have any questions on the program.