Bushfire affected northern Queensland councils activated for disaster

Disaster assistance is now available for northern Queensland councils battling a series of fierce bushfires that have impacted the region.

Flinders and Etheridge Shire Councils have been activated for financial support as they work to keep their communities safe in difficult circumstances.

In the past weeks, heatwave conditions and strong winds combined to fuel blazes that have damaged large amounts of vegetation, fences, grazing land and protected areas.

Significant water bombing has been conducted to contain the fires, which also impacted wildlife and forced the temporary closures of roads and a rail line.

Funded under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the assistance measures will allow councils to maintain focus on critical response and recovery efforts.

This includes counter disaster operations like firefighting and incident management, with councils now able to recoup costs associated with such activities.

Councils will also be supported with the reconstruction of any essential public assets damaged by the fires.

Additionally, this assistance allows councils to carry out emergency works to temporarily restore affected assets like bridges and roads to an operable level.

This new activation marks the fourth of Queensland’s 2024-2025 disaster season and follows the announcement of disaster support for Balonne Shire Council and residents of Dirranbandi and Hebel following bushfires there in early November.

Diamantina Shire Council was also activated for assistance after rain caused flooding in August, while seven councils in central and southern Queensland received support in response to a midyear rainfall and flooding event.

For more information on the DRFA visit www.disasterassist.gov.au or www.qra.qld.gov.au.