Disaster Ready Fund – Round Three 2025-2026
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About
On 17 November 2025, the Australian Government announced the successful projects funded nationally across Australia through the $200 million Round three of the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).
Queensland saw 17 projects approved and $51,465,743 in Commonwealth funding, including one Queensland project to be delivered across the nation approved Commonwealth funding of $8,383,989.
Administration
The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) is the lead agency for Queensland, responsible for coordinating DRF proposals and submitting applications to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on behalf of the state.
Status and next steps
Next steps for DRF - Round Three 2025-26 program:
- NEMA will work with QRA to negotiate a formal funding agreement under the Federation Funding Agreement – Environment. When the Queensland Minister for Emergency Services co-signs the funding agreement, the Commonwealth will transfer funds to QRA.
- Delivery Agents must develop an Implementation Plan for each approved project and submit these via QRA. NEMA provides a template for these plans and plans must be in place within two months of the co-signed Federation Funding Agreement. QRA will be engaging with successful applicants on the development of the implementation plans.
- QRA will then be in a position to disburse funds once Implementation Plans are in place and project funding agreements/schedules are executed between QRA and delivery agents.
Successful projects
List of Queensland's successful DRF Round 3 projects 2025-26:
| Project title | Location | Description | Commonwealth funding | Co-contribution | Total project cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kowanyama Hub | Kowanyama | This project will construct the Kowanyama Hub, a multipurpose Disaster Coordination Centre to effectively and efficiently coordinate disaster management and emergency service operations. When no disaster coordination, the Hub, will operate as an Indigenous Knowledge Centre, to co-ordinate a range of programs and activities that support the documentation and preservation of Indigenous languages and culture. | $8,203,500 | $911,500 | $9,115,000 |
| Coast Road resilience upgrade | Gladstone | The project will upgrade 3.8 kilometres of low-lying Coast Road in Baffle Creek to improve flood resilience. Works include raising road levels, installing new culverts, and improving drainage and safety features. Once complete, the road will remain accessible during flood events, reducing isolation for residents, supporting emergency access, and enhancing community safety, wellbeing and resilience. | $5,239,328 | $5,239,328 | $10,478,656 |
| Preparing for and responding to emergencies for people with communication disability | Queensland - All | Communication-accessible disaster preparedness workshops, forums and an all-hazards toolkit will be co-designed and delivered, immediately increasing disaster preparedness for 275 Queenslanders with communication disability and increasing the long-term capacity of Emergency Services, local councils and community organisations to communicate effectively with people with communication disability in future disasters. | $272,455 | $127,795 | $400,250 |
| Bedourie flood levee enhancements | Diamantina | The project aims to improve the existing flood protection system in Bedourie by addressing critical structural issues. It is a proactive disaster risk reduction initiative designed to strengthen the town's flood resilience, improve emergency preparedness, and mitigate the adverse impacts of flooding. Without funding, the community remains exposed to severe flood impacts, risking economic losses and service disruption. | $1,108,071 | $123,119 | $1,231,190 |
| Rockhampton Airport temporary barrier project | Rockhampton | This project will deliver a temporary flood barrier that can be deployed to provide adequate flood protection at the Rockhampton Airport Terminal. | $1,145,045 | $1,145,045 | $2,290,090 |
| Cloncurry Shire Council Eastern Drainage Stage 5 Project | Cloncurry | The Eastern Drainage Stage 5 project will deliver the final stage of flood mitigation works through the eastern drainage division of the Cloncurry Township. This includes up-stream diversion works that will both reduce the flow of water into low lying areas along McIlwraith, Miles and Dutton Streets and channel this into drainage infrastructure developed and delivered through previous stages of this project. | $2,687,889 | $534,000 | $3,221,889 |
| Murweh Shire Council Local Disaster Coordination Centre Relocation & Refurbishment Project | Murweh | Council seeks funding to develop a specialised Local Disaster Coordination Centre to improve the disaster management capabilities. The enhanced facility will be located at a flood-free site in the Airport Precinct, repurposing the former Charleville Weather Station. This project will enhance disaster preparedness improve the coordination of emergency response operations and support critical communications. | $474,418 | $67,712 | $542,130 |
| Mareeba - place of refuge | Mareeba | This project upgrades the Cedric Davies Community Hub to a place of refuge by installing Crimsafe screens to windows, cyclone-proof doors, kitchen upgrade including appliances, refurbish toilets and amenities, new disability toilet, cleaners' cupboard, install back-up generator with concrete apron and roof. This will strengthen the local economy, improve disaster response, ensure community safety and social inclusion. | $252,250 | $252,250 | $504,500 |
| Burketown multipurpose emergency evacuation and emergency coordination centre | Burke | The project covers the detailed planning, design and documentation of an emergency evacuation centre and disaster coordination centre. The facility will provide a place of refuge for the community and be designed to:
| $414,000 | $90,000 | $504,000 |
| Disaster Resilience Builder for Business | Queensland - All | The Business Chamber Queensland's Disaster Resilience Builder for Business will provide a curated pathway to build business capability. Starting with disaster readiness assessment (governance, climate risk, continuity planning, resource management, testing, communication, and improvement), followed by modules on risk assessment, business continuity and recovery, with supporting information, tools and coaching. | $3,245,798 | $921,500 | $4,167,298 |
| Culturally Inclusive Disaster Planning and Exercising Project | Queensland - All | Working collaboratively with First Nations peoples on Country, the project will scope how traditional, cultural, and local knowledge, practices, and language will be incorporated into Local Disaster Management Plans and disaster management practices. This collaboration with local communities will gather and document generational knowledge. | $739,000 | $1,505,000 | $2,244,000 |
| Balonne emergency mobile generators | Balonne | Council seeking to purchase 4 x 45kVA generators mounted on steel trailers with changeover switches to enable community continuity during disasters which affect the power supply therefore water and sewerage. The generators will be on standby across the seven towns in our LGA. During events, when there are power outages, Council will have the ability to deliver essential services including water and sewerage through their use. | $270,000 | $30,000 | $300,000 |
| Palm Island cyclone shelter | Palm Island | Construct an up to 800 person cyclone shelter (to be used as an evacuation centre and/or community hall) to serve the 4,000 plus residents on Palm Island. It will improve disaster preparedness and response actions, reduce disaster risks, improve community resilience during and post disaster events, and make a substantial contribution to community safety and wellbeing. | $14,620,000 | $2,515,000 | $17,135,000 |
| Enhanced flood intelligence and warning systems | Townsville | This is a three-year program aimed at improving the collection, analysis, and distribution of flood intelligence. It will include upgrades to the existing flood warning infrastructure, the addition of new infrastructure, a review of mapping products based on the latest flood studies, and the implementation of automated warnings and alerts for the community. | $985,000 | $985,000 | $1,970,000 |
| Queensland Flood Forecast & Warning System | Queensland - All | A Queensland Flood Forecast and Warning System (QFFWS) will provide road authorities with advanced notification of when and how road assets and associated infrastructure will be impacted by flooding events. Additionally, the system will also calculate receding waters so that appropriate inspectors can re-open roads/bridges after inundation has occurred. | $2,850,000 | $2,950,000 | $5,800,000 |
| Resilient Construct of Mt Berryman Floodway | Lockyer Valley | The current floodway is at the end of life, exhibiting significant failures and becoming increasingly susceptible to damage. The new floodway will be more resilient to inundation and will be widened to “future-proof” the floodway for two-way operation. | $575,000 | $575,000 | $1,150,000 |
| National Get Ready | Tasmania - All, Queensland - All, South Australia - All, New South Wales - All, Northern Territory - All, Victoria - All, Western Australia - All | The project will build preparedness for all Australians. Building on the successful Get Ready Queensland model, this project establishes the National Get Ready program as a strategic and measured approach to community preparedness in Australia. The project will deliver a National Get Ready Framework, governance, and resource sharing arrangements at a national level, but locally tailored. | $8,383,989 | $19,495,200 | $27,879,189 |
Key dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Applications proposals opened | Wednesday 22 January 2025 - 9.00am |
| Applications proposals closed | Wednesday 16 April 2025 - 5.00pm |
| Lead Agencies submitted application proposals to NEMA | 17 April – 13 June 2025 |
| Assessment of applications by NEMA | June - July 2025 |
| Announcements made on successful projects | 17 November 2025 |
| Development of Implementation Plans | Late 2025 - early 2026 |
| Implementation Plans endorsed and payments to Applicants/projects formally commence | Early 2026 |
The list of all successful projects across the nation is published on the National Emergency Management Australia (NEMA) website at:
Guidelines
Funding background
The DRF delivers against the recommendations of a Productivity Commission Inquiry into National Disaster Funding in 2015 providing up to $200 million per year on disaster resilience, with funding matched by states and territories. It is also supported by Deloitte’s 2022 report Adapting Australia for Climate Resilient Growth and the Insurance Council of Australia’s 2022 report Building a more resilient Australia, which have both called for increased investment in resilience and climate adaptation funding.
The DRF is given effect through the Emergency Response Fund Amendment (Disaster Ready Fund) Act 2022.
The DRF replaces the Emergency Response Fund (ERF), which terminated on 30 June 2023. The ERF committed $50 million per year for resilience building measures – the DRF will commit up to four times that amount – up to $200 million, per year and will help shift the Fund’s focus from recovery and repair to disaster prevention.
The DRF will complement, rather than duplicate, the recovery funding available under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will collaborate closely with state and territory governments to deliver a set of locally-driven, but nationally significant, projects with states and territories expected to contribute 50 per cent towards the cost of projects.
Media statements
Contact
If you have any questions or need support with your application:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Established by the Commonwealth Government, the Disaster Ready Fund (DRF) is a funding program developed to help communities protect themselves against the impacts of natural hazards across Australia. The Commonwealth Government, via the DRF, has committed to provide up to $1 billion over a period of five years, from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2028.
$200 million in Commonwealth funding is available in round three, with up to:
- $138 million of this notionally allocated for infrastructure investment (infrastructure funding stream) encompassing the following primary project activity types:
- investment in grey infrastructure
- investment in green-blue infrastructure (including nature-based solutions)
- investment in social infrastructure
- investment in natural hazard monitoring infrastructure
- $59 million of this notionally allocated for other eligible project types, and
- $3 million of this notionally allocated for administrative support for Lead Agencies.
The minimum total project value (Commonwealth funding and co-contribution combined) is:
- $0.5 million for infrastructure funding stream projects, and
- no minimum amount for other project types.
There is no maximum grant amount, but grants cannot exceed the total amount of available project funds ($197 million).
Queensland State Agencies, non-government organisations, First Nations organisations, peak bodies, local governments and community groups are eligible to apply through QRA by submitting an application form to QRA to be considered for funding.
Lead Agencies submit applications to NEMA on behalf of their jurisdiction.
Round Three of the DRF opens on 22 January 2025 and closed on 16 April 2025.
Project proposals must be submitted to the QRA by completing the online application form available on our website no later than 5pm on Wednesday 16 April 2025. Any project proposals that have not completed all mandatory documentation cannot be submitted.
QRA will review all project proposals against the eligibility criteria and submit up to 60 applications (Queensland’s maximum allowable number of applications) to the Australian Government for final determination. Applications will be submitted by QRA to the National Emergency Management Agency by 5pm on Friday 13 June 2025.
Applicants (and any delivery partners) are required to contribute towards each project. The option to apply for a partial or full waiver of the 50 per cent co-contribution requirement has been replaced by a tiered approach to co-contributions that reduces the co-contribution requirement for certain applicant types and project locations. For further information please refer to Section 3.1.1 of the DRF Round Three Guidelines.
To be eligible projects must:
- have the primary purpose of increasing understanding of disaster impacts, building resilience to future disasters and/or reducing disaster risk, in line with the DRF’s objectives (see section 2 of the Guidelines)
- be risk informed, aligned with plans and priority targeted, in accordance with the DRF’s Investment Principles (see section 2 of the Guidelines)
- target one or more eligible natural hazard types (see section 5.1.1 of the Guidelines).
- involve one or more eligible activity types in the built, social, natural and/or economic domains (see section 5.1.2 of the Guidelines)
- deliver ‘enduring benefits’ (as defined in the Glossary) for a community or communities at risk of being affected by future disasters (see section 2 of the Guidelines), in an eligible location (see section 5.2 of the Guidelines)
Large-scale infrastructure that will deliver enduring disaster risk mitigation, resilience and safety benefits for communities is a key focus for Round Three. This includes projects such as the construction of flood levees, sea walls and drainage basins that seek to significantly reduce disaster risk, impacts and costs (including insurance costs) for communities in the long-term.
Further information on previous rounds of the DRF, including the list of successful Queensland projects and frequently asked questions can be found at:
Contingency costs are an eligible expenditure and can account for unforeseen financial circumstances, such as increased labour and supply costs. Contingency can be applied to specific budget items or the overall project, but a clear explanation needs to be provided to justify the contingency amount and inclusion and must be commensurate with the size and complexity of the proposed project.
Contingency costs form part of the entire budget and subsequently are required to be considered when calculating the co-contribution.
The maximum project period is five (5) years for infrastructure stream projects, and three (3) for all other projects. Projects must not commence until written endorsement of the relevant Implementation Plan has been provided by NEMA.
Applications will initially be reviewed against the eligibility criteria in sections 4 and 5 of the funding Guidelines.
Eligible applications will be assessed against the assessment criteria outlined in the funding Guidelines (see section 8 of the Guidelines).
In accordance with the DRF Act, the Minister for Emergency Management is responsible for deciding which projects to fund. In making these decisions, the Minister may take into account the findings of the Panel/s, in conjunction with any other advice or recommendations provided by NEMA.
Yes. There is no limit on the number of applications you can submit. Applicants may submit similar proposals through more than one Lead Agency, tailored for delivery in different states and/or territories.
Please note that QRA is limited to a maximum of 60 submissions for Queensland. Each application will be assessed individually in accordance with the funding Guidelines.
No. Project applicants in Queensland must apply through the QRA. Applications cannot be submitted directly to the Australian Government.
DRF Round Three 2025-26 successful outcomes were announced in November 2025. These dates are indicative and subject to change, at the discretion of the Australian Government.
If you have any questions or need support with your application, please email disasterreadyfund@qra.qld.gov.au.
Last updated: 20 November 2025. QRA Reference: DOC/24/99527