Helping Queensland's riverine environments recover

More than $19 million in disaster assistance has been made available to repair damaged riverine areas following severe flooding which impacted large areas of Queensland in early 2022.

Stage 2 of the Riverine Recovery Program to repair flood-damaged riverine, wetland and riparian environments is joint funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The program will enable eligible natural resource management bodies, bulk water supply utilities and First Nations corporations to undertake significant works to support the recovery of some of Queensland’s iconic natural areas.

River health plays a crucial role in supporting some of our most precious marine areas including the Southern Great Barrier Reef and Moreton Bay and these impacted waterways contain important, delicate in-stream ecosystems.

Queensland Acting Premier Steven Miles said the funding would in particular support environmental recovery in riverine areas across South East and Central Queensland impacted by multiple severe weather events.

“Just like our communities were impacted during last year’s severe weather, so too was our environment,” Minister Miles said.

“Under Stage 2 of the program, funding is available for recovery works including bank repair and stabilisation for erosion control, and native vegetation plantings to restore natural ecosystem functions.

“These works will not only support the recovery of environment but aim to increase resilience to future events.”

As part of the now-complete Stage 1 of the Riverine Recovery Program, eligible groups carried out reconnaissance work to better understand the damage caused to their local waterways by the severe weather events of last summer, including erosion and displaced vegetation, and the works needed to rectify the damage.

Successful grant applicants will begin their on-ground works from April 2023, with projects to be completed by June 2024.