Disaster assistance extended for More Queensland communities affected by flooding from November 2021

Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services The Honourable Mark Ryan

Disaster assistance is now available for Queensland’s Noosa Shire and Isaac Regional Councils following the severe flooding event between November and December last year.

The assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the extension of disaster funding will help the two flood-affected local councils to cover the cost of their clean-up, repair and rebuild efforts.

“More than two months on and the effects of this wide-reaching weather event are continuing to be realised,” Minister McKenzie said.

“All affected councils are able to pick up the pieces with assistance from the DRFA.

“Today’s announcement means both Noosa Shire Council and Isaac Regional Council can rest assured the costs associated with eligible counter disaster operations and the restoration of essential public assets will be covered.

“The Australian and Queensland governments are continuing to work together to support ongoing recovery efforts across the state to ensure all communities hit by severe weather events have the best support available,” Minister McKenzie said.

Queensland Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said the DRFA funding will see vital repairs to the local road network take place over the coming months.

“The excessive rainfall associated with the November-December floods caused a great deal of damage throughout much of Central, Southern and Western Queensland,” Minister Ryan said.

“In Noosa, a major landslip at Sunshine Beach has caused damage to a crucial road and footpath area that is used extensively by pedestrians and cyclists daily.

“In Isaac, the floods closed many local roads, isolating rural communities and causing a great deal of damage, which is having an ongoing effect on anyone who travels these roads now the water has gone down.

“The DRFA will ensure repairs to these pieces essential public infrastructure can occur, safely connecting local communities following this event.”

This extension of the DRFA brings the total number of Local Government Areas (LGAs) receiving disaster assistance in response to the Central, Southern and Western Queensland Rainfall and Flooding from 10 November to 3 December 2021 event to 25.

These LGAs are Balonne, Banana, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Flinders, Goondiwindi, Gympie, Isaac, Lockyer Valley, Longreach, Maranoa, Murweh, Noosa, North Burnett, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs.

Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website at www.qra.qld.gov.au.

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