Between 22 November and 6 December 2018, Queenslanders faced a catastrophic bushfire event unlike anything this state had seen before.
1.4 million hectares of land burned statewide during the bushfire crisis, with 4200 firefighters and 59 aircraft using 12 million litres of suppressants to battle the disaster.
The Commonwealth has accepted Queensland’s proposal for a joint recovery package totalling $242 million.
This package includes funding for Betterment, business and industry support, riparian and coastal recovery and a resilience grants program.
Local governments, state agencies and non-government organisations can now apply for a share of the $38 million Queensland Disaster Resilience Fund (QDRF) for initiatives that will better protect Queensland communities from natural disasters.
The QDRF will be delivered over four years with $9.5 million available in this first round of funding.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today announced State Recovery Coordinator Major General (retired) Stuart Smith has had his role extended to head up the flood recovery effort in Queensland.
The Queensland Reconstruction Authority will provide support to the State Recovery Coordinator as he works closely with local councils to identify the critical works needed to help Queensland communities recover.
Disaster assistance has been extended for communities in Burdekin, Cairns, Cook, Douglas, Hope Vale, Townsville and Whitsunday regions due to record-breaking monsoonal floods still impacting North and Far North Queensland.
Disaster assistance has been made available for communities in North and Far North Queensland impacted by severe weather and flooding brought on by Tropical Cyclones Penny and Owen in December and early January.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
