First disaster activations made in response to evolving western Queensland flood emergency

Disaster assistance is now available to seven western Queensland councils as the region battles rising floodwaters and widening devastation.

Support under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) has been made available to the local government areas of Barcoo, Boulia, Bulloo, Diamantina, Longreach, Quilpie, and Winton.

With record-breaking rains leading to widespread flooding through the outback, impacts to infrastructure are sharply increasing and more residents have found themselves isolated.

With the confirmation of DRFA assistance, eligible councils can now recoup the costs of their response and recovery activities.

This includes counter disaster operations, emergency road repairs, and the reconstruction of essential public assets.

Councils will be financially supported for actions like sandbagging, evacuations, standing up emergency shelters, and traffic management.

Clean-up and debris removal, including the wash out of any flooded homes, will also quickly emerge as a pressing priority as soon as waters start to regress.

Another major issue currently being grappled with is resupply, with access to affected communities quickly being cut, and the need for food and water growing.

With DRFA support activated, impacted councils can focus their attentions and energies on the needs of their communities.

The activations made today take the total number of Queensland councils receiving DRFA assistance for the 2024-25 disaster season to 70, and in this time many councils have been activated more than once.

Queensland has been hit hard during the 2024-25 disaster season, with an unprecedented 16 disaster events activated under the DRFA, including floods, bushfires, cyclones, and severe storms.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is closely monitoring the evolving impacts of this latest flood emergency and is extending all necessary support to western Queensland.