The Palaszczuk Government will fast-track Queensland’s reconstruction, recovery and resilience activities following the devastating 2021-22 disaster season.
The 2022-23 State Budget includes close to $1.7 billion for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority to pay out to aid recovery not only from the natural disasters of 2022 but to also continue the ongoing recovery from other disasters that have impacted the state since 2019.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland will continue its largest recovery program since the 2011 floods with the total recovery cost expected to be more than $3 billion after 66 of the state’s 77 local government areas were activated for assistance over nine significant natural disasters in the 2021-22 season.
“It was a summer that we will never forget, and the Queensland Government will work shoulder-to-shoulder with all impacted communities in 2022-23 and beyond to ensure they not only recover but build back better,” the Premier said.
“The estimated reconstruction bill for essential public assets is around $1.2 billion while an additional $2 billion in extraordinary assistance will help address the immediate, medium and long-term recovery and resilience needs of Queenslanders.
“Extraordinary assistance has been made available to help all sectors of the community including individuals, families, small businesses, primary producers, not-for-profits, community and sporting organisations.”
In the week following the south-east Queensland floods, an initial $558.5 million extraordinary joint Queensland-Australian Government assistance package was released comprising recovery grants for primary producers, small businesses, not-for-profit organisations, and sporting and community clubs, and funding to councils to assist with urgent recovery and clean-up works.
“This was followed by a $771 million joint Queensland-Australian Government package to fast-track remaining clean-up efforts and help affected Queenslanders whose homes have been ravaged by the floods,” she said.
“This includes the nation-leading $741 million Resilient Homes Fund that provides options for eligible flood-affected Queenslanders to raise, retrofit and take part in a voluntary buy back, which will significantly ramp up delivery in 2022-23.
“The Resilient Homes Fund has the potential to truly change people’s lives by improving their resilience to future flooding or removing them from harm’s way completely.
“A further $721 million in extraordinary circumstances disaster assistance funding has been approved to address broader recovery needs across impacted communities including $178 million for human and social initiatives; $200 million for economic recovery; $57 million for environmental recovery and management, and more than $300 million for infrastructure programs.”
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Steven Miles said the Queensland Government remained committed to increasing resilience in our communities to lessen the impact of natural disasters.
“As the most disaster impacted state in Australia, it’s imperative we help Queensland communities better prepare for natural disasters so they can recover more quickly,” Mr Miles said.
“Queensland leads the nation in building resilience in communities through its betterment programs and we will proudly continue this in 2022-23.
“In response to the 2021-22 season, $170 million has been approved, in partnership with the Australian Government, to build damaged essential public infrastructure such as roads, bridges, causeways and culverts back to a better standard.
“The Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund will be extended this financial year with $13.1 million approved to support disaster mitigation projects and build resilience to natural disasters.
“The $10 million North Queensland Natural Disaster Mitigation Program (NQNDMP), which is aimed at reducing disaster risk in cyclone prone, coastal areas, will commence delivery in 2022-23,” he said.
“This latest disaster season highlighted the importance of preparedness across the entire state, so we’re pleased to continue to provide the Get Ready Queensland program with $2 million for grants to be shared between local councils.
“The Queensland Government is committed to building safer, stronger and more resilient communities and these initiatives are testament to that.”
While the $10 million NQNDMP is 100 per cent funded by the Queensland Government, the remaining initiatives are jointly funded with the Australian Government.
Those initiatives are funded upfront by the Queensland Government and the state is reimbursed by the Australian Government on an annual basis.
