Further funding to help drive bushfire recovery in Queensland communities

22 January 2021

Seven Queensland councils will share in $8.9 million of additional funding for a range of projects to help drive the economic recovery of communities impacted by last year’s devastating bushfires.

Nine projects had been approved in the third round of the $36.8 million Local Economic Recovery Program (LER), jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Projects approved in this round included upgrades to community facilities, water infrastructure and environmental revegetation projects, as well as the installation of smart water meters in drought-prone areas.

Funding and projects approved under the third round of the LER Program:

  • Bundaberg Regional Council
    • Environmental recovery project for the naturalisation of Washpool Creek, including revegetation to improve water quality and the planting of up to 20,000 trees - $2,777,000
  • Gympie Regional Council
    • Upgrades to a number of water mains across the region to provide a secure and reliable water service for residents and enable the required water pressure for firefighting - $1,080,000
  • Scenic Rim Regional Council
    • Repairs and upgrades to six community halls to operate as recovery hubs during and after natural disasters - $310,000
  • Somerset Regional Council
    • Upgrades to existing facilities to improve the operation of the Moore Soldiers Memorial Hall - $403,000
    • Improvements to the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail user experience, with increased car and recreational vehicle parking at Fernvale and Esk, and enhancements to the overnight campground in Toogoolawah - $478,000
    • Upgrades to multiple sites along the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail, including the addition of solar lighting and all-ability access - $1,503,000
  • Southern Downs Regional Council
    • Installation of smart metering technology in Stanthorpe in response to future climate and natural hazard conditions - $940,000
  • Sunshine Coast Regional Council
    • Train Sunshine Coast - A soft infrastructure initiative to maximise the use of regional sporting assets and industry capabilities - $1,336,000
  • Toowoomba Regional Council
    • Development of a trail network in the Crows Nest region to boost eco-tourism - $106,000

The LER Program is open to local governments and Queensland Government departments and agencies for projects in the Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gympie, Ipswich, Livingstone, Lockyer Valley, Mareeba, Noosa, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Southern Downs, Sunshine Coast and Toowoomba local government areas.

The program is administered by QRA on behalf of the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments. For more information visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/LER