2019 North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough - Recovery operation

Event summary

The North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January - 14 February 2019 event caused catastrophic damage and loss to communities from Townsville, north to the Torres Strait and west to Mount Isa, with the long-term social and economic cost of the event estimated by Deloitte Access Economics at $5.68 billion.

Local government areas activated under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for funding assistance measures for the North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January - 14 February 2019 event included 39 local councils across Queensland. 

State Recovery Plan 

The North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough – State Recovery Plan 2019–2021 is long-term plan guiding recovery of the 39 local councils impacted by the North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January - 14 February 2019 event. The Plan underpins the Government’s commitment to helping communities recover, rebuild and reconnect from the unprecedented weather event and features Local Recovery Plans for the most impacted councils.

Funding assistance and exceptional circumstances package

2019 Monsoon Trough Townsville
39 local government areas were activated for the 2019 North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough event under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for various funding assistance measures for individuals, primary producers, small business and not for profits.
Helicopter dropping fodder in outback with people watching on
Learn about the $242 million DRFA Category C and D exceptional circumstances package for the 2019 North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough event jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments with recovery initiatives for betterment, business and industry support, riparian and coastal recovery and a resilience grants program.

Local Recovery Plans

The following 14 event specific local recovery plans were prepared and endorsed by councils for the North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January - 14 February 2019 event: 

Recovery reporting

This report outlines progress against the objectives in the recovery plans for local governments and the Functional Recovery Groups (FRGs) for the North & Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January - 14 February 2019 event.