February 21, 2020
The Federal Government has announced disaster assistance is available to Toowoomba, Somerset and Western Downs councils in the wake of recent flash-flooding.
Other councils to qualify for assistance are the Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Logan and Southern Downs.
However, the South Burnett – which reported $1 million in road damage – is still having its claim assessed.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
State Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said the funding would assist the councils restore damaged public infrastructure and the cost of cleaning up.
“Communities that just a few short months ago were dealing with terrifying bushfires are now coping with torrential rain and flooding,” he said.
“But Queenslanders are a resilient mob and we’ll face these challenges together.”
Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said while it was good to see the rain, the clean-up from the flood was a cost these councils could do without.
“The images of flooded creeks and rivers coming out of towns like Dalby and Warwick are astonishing to see after the long drought,” Mr Littleproud said.
“It’s important that the impacted local councils know that the Commonwealth and State Governments are there to support their clean-up efforts.”
- Related article: Storms Cause $1m Road Damage
[UPDATED with correction]
