Local Government Masterplans and investment overview (FWIN)

Investment overview (FWIN)

In accordance with the Queensland Strategic Flood Warning Infrastructure Plan, the Queensland Reconstruction Authority is working with key stakeholders including state agencies, local government and the Bureau of Meteorology (the Bureau) to facilitate the development of a network of flood warning gauges that complies with best practice.

Since 2017, the QRA has secured more than $24.3 million in funding for flood gauges and other flood warning infrastructure across Queensland through a mix of state funded programs, Commonwealth programs and jointly funded programs.

Further investment of $7 million in Queensland's Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN) has been approved under the Australian Government’s $75 million Emergency Response Fund 2021-22 to continue to roll-out new and upgraded flood warning infrastructure to communities heavily impacted by the floods in early 2022. This will ensure our flood warning infrastructure network continues to be fit-for-purpose, supporting the safety and prosperity of Queensland communities.

The Australian Government are also playing a significant role in achieving a best practice network with the announcement of $236 million over 10 years from 2023–24 to remediate high priority flood warning infrastructure and address critical reliability risks in support of the Bureau of Meteorology National Disaster Warning Network.

The Queensland Government remains committed to working with the Commonwealth on investing in flood warning infrastructure and ensuring the establishment of cost-sharing arrangements for the ongoing maintenance of these vital assets.

Local Government Masterplans (FWIN)

QRA are working with local governments and state governments to develop forward planning regionally focused Masterplans for a range of flood warning infrastructure to ensure there is regional agreement on priorities and design solutions for when funding becomes available.

2021-22 North Queensland Project (FWIN)

In 2021-2022, 180 new flood warning infrastructure assets were delivered for 28 councils as part of the $8 million FWIN project and these are now operational and benefiting communities of the Far North, North West and Townsville and surrounds.

The new FWIN infrastructure is keeping our communities safe by delivering: suitable flood warning infrastructure upgrades to the most appropriate locations throughout the flood-impacted area; improvements to Bureau of Meteorology services to support primary producers and communities; and a range of new assets to support flood warning intelligence, including the use of flood cameras at strategic locations.

Delivery of these new flood warning assets will successfully complete the flood warning investment plans from Mackay, west to Diamantina, and north through to the Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York. All new infrastructure investment will conform to the National Flood Warning Infrastructure Standard, and work aligns with the National Framework for Flood Warning Infrastructure. 

This project is supporting recovery following the 2019 North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough disaster event and is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.