Queensland’s largest ever extraordinary disaster assistance package will fast-track remaining clean-up efforts and help flood victims whose homes have been ravaged during the 2021-22 flooding season.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has written to the Prime Minister offering to split the funding package 50:50.
The $741 million Resilient Residential Recovery Package will provide Queenslanders whose homes have been badly damaged by flooding with a range of options that may include retrofitting, house raising or the voluntary buy-back of homes at high risk from future floods.
A $30 million Clean-Up Package will support councils and agencies with the clean-up of flood-related debris including commercial, building and housing debris that’s not normally eligible for reimbursement.
Palaszczuk said the package marked the next wave of financial support to ensure flood-affected communities in Queensland get the support they need to recover and build back better.
“Queensland has been absolutely battered and the damage and devastation of the 2021-22 disaster season has seen flooding hit much of the state,” she said.
“Some of these communities, like Gympie and the Fraser Coast, were still reeling from flooding in December and January when the recent South East Queensland flooding disaster hit.
“Councils, communities and the Australian Defence Force have done a magnificent job working together to clean-up, but there’s still a way to go and this $30 million Clean Up Package will give councils and agencies an extra boost to finish the mammoth task of removing the huge amount of waste and debris that has accumulated throughout the impact zone.
“This package builds upon the $558 million grants package announced earlier this month to help small businesses, primary producers, and not-for-profit organisations rebuild from the floods, as well as initial clean-up and recovery payments to the hardest hit councils,” Palaszczuk said.
“This is the biggest single disaster support package in Queensland’s history and it reflects not only the immediate challenge in terms of cleaning up and rebuilding but the longer-term need to increase resilience in Queensland communities.”
The $30 million clean-up program will be available to councils and state agencies affected by the South East Queensland floods to cover extraordinary costs not eligible under the DRFA including, but not limited to, business, commercial, agricultural, industrial and residential areas, natural assets, and community, cultural sporting and recreational facilities.
For more information, visit: www.qra.qld.gov.au
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