The Hon. David Littleproud MP
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and
Emergency Management
Deputy Leader of the Nationals
The Hon. Coralee O’Rourke MP
Queensland Minister for Communities,
Minister for Disability Services & Seniors
Bushfire-affected communities from the Burdekin to the border will benefit from $1.8 million for 37 projects to aid their recovery and boost their resilience for future disasters.
Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud today said the first round of grants would benefit communities affected by the 2019 spring-summer bushfires.
“These flexible funding grants are jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA),” Mr Littleproud said.
“The Australian and Queensland governments are committed to the long-term recovery of Queensland communities, which were hit hard by the bushfires.”
“These blazes impacted large parts of Queensland including communities as far north as Cooktown and as far south as border communities in the Gold Coast Hinterland.”
Minister for Communities Coralee O’Rouke said the range and geographic spread of these successful grant recipients reflects the widespread destruction of the bushfires last year.
“The projects receiving funding will assist communities with bushfire season preparations, community preparedness, and equipment to assist with disaster mitigation, community events and upgrades to community infrastructure,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“These grants are particularly important as many of the affected communities have also taken a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“These communities have been hit by double disasters, first devastating bushfires and then the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Both of these events have placed these communities under economic and social hardship and we know that many residents in these areas are doing it tough right now,” she said.
The Flexible Funding grants were open to 23 local government areas affected by the bushfires.
Projects receiving a grant under this round of funding include:
- $68,848 to Baffle Creek Community Inc to undertake improvements to the Baffle Creek Community Centre
- $35,000 to Save Mt Loft Inc for a community bushfire preparation project in Toowoomba
- $99,000 to Queensland Fruit & Vegetable Growers Ltd for a recovery and resilience in the horticulture industry pilot project in Central Queensland
- $80,848 to Mount Larcom and District Show Society Inc for a community disaster recovery hub and animal refuge.
Councils in bushfire affected communities are also benefiting from the grants, with funding for projects to be delivered by the Brisbane City, Cook Shire, Livingstone Shire, Mareeba Shire, Redland City, Scenic Rim Regional, Somerset Regional, South Burnett Regional, Toowoomba Regional and Whitsunday Regional Councils.
These council-run projects include:
- $35,000 for Brisbane City Council to deliver a bushfire awareness program in the Pullenvale ward
- $63,800 for Livingstone Shire Council to build community resilience at The Caves
- $42,750 to Toowoomba Regional Council for fire trails at Crows Nest and Millmerran West.
