Beach and environmental recovery have been prioritised in the latest round of extraordinary recovery packages for south-east Queensland communities devastated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

New State Recovery Coordinator Major General Stuart Smith (Retd) spent his first days in the role visiting areas most impacted by the recent Central Queensland bushfires.

The QRA, local governments and state agencies are working together on a long-term plan to manage the impact of future floods and enhance community safety and resilience in the Burnett River Catchment.

Disaster assistance has been extended to help cover the costs of fighting bushfires in the communities of Bundaberg, Central Highlands and Isaac as well as extending recovery assistance to selected areas in Bundaberg, Gladstone and Rockhampton.

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.

Get Ready Queensland Week 2018 launched on Monday 8 October in line with the Bureau of Meteorology’s Cyclone and Severe Storm Outlook for 2018-19. The multi-agency, statewide event helped Queenslanders prepare for whatever Mother Nature has in store this disaster season.

In a huge recognition of Queensland’s ongoing commitment to disaster resilient communities, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Queensland Police Service have all taken out top honours at the national 2018 Resilient Australia Awards.

The Central Queensland Bushfires Recovery Plan 2018-2021 sets a clear framework for locally led bushfire recovery and reconstruction efforts following blazes that devastated around 1.4 million hectares of land in late 2018.