April 1, 2018
The North Burnett Regional Council will receive $4.3 million in funding from the Commonwealth and State Governments to help it recover from damage caused by Severe Tropical Cyclone (STC) Debbie last year.
The funding represents more than 10 per cent of a $40 million Betterment Fund available under the joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements to help recovery efforts in 29 Queensland local government areas.
Minister for Cyber Security Angus Taylor, who has Commonwealth responsibility for disaster recovery, said the Betterment Fund would enable communities to rebuild stronger and more disaster-resilient public assets.
“STC Debbie had a catastrophic impact on Queensland communities early last year, causing significant damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure from the Whitsundays to the New South Wales border,” Mr Taylor said.
“This funding for North Burnett Regional Council will help them rebuild vital infrastructure to a more resilient standard, and help the community withstand future disasters.
Queensland Minister for Infrastructure Cameron Dick said many of the North Burnett roads covered by the funding had a history of being damaged during severe weather events.
“In a state as susceptible to disasters as Queensland, we not only need to be able to respond quickly when a natural disaster strikes, we have to ensure our public infrastructure is durable and able to withstand the wrath of Mother Nature,” Mr Dick said.
The funds will be applied to road networks and floodways at Airport Road, Back Creek Road, Cahalane Road, Cannindah Road, Clonmel Road, Greentree Road, Kerwee Road, Macks Road, Monal Road, Mt Steadman Road and Tableland Road, with the aim of building them back stronger and more resilient to reduce future restoration costs.
“Of the 2013 and 2015 Betterment projects completed and impacted by subsequent natural disaster events up to April 2017, 96 per cent remained undamaged or sustained only superficial damage, avoiding restoration costs of more than $104 million,” Mr Dick said.
North Burnett Mayor Rachel Chambers said the Betterment works would help the community withstand future natural disasters.
“I would like to thank the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments for their assistance in helping the North Burnett region become a more disaster resilient local government,” Ms Chambers said.
“North Burnett Regional Council has also committed more than $197,000 towards these projects, which include installing open drain protection and constructing concrete floodways across a number of sites to reduce the risk of scouring, and new bed level crossings to improve access during significant rainfall.”
The Queensland Government has so far approved 57 Betterment projects from 16 councils valued at over $24 million.
Other submissions are still being assessed.
The South Burnett was estimated to have suffered $500,000 damage top public assets when STC Debbie passed through the region on March 30 last year.
- Related article: Cyclone Debbie Causes $500,000 Damage
