APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR A SHARE OF $50 MILLION FOR FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECTS

Applications are now open for a further $50 million for priority flood mitigation infrastructure projects across the country, and Federal Member for Wide Bay and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Llew O’Brien is encouraging Wide Bay councils to apply.

The National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will now deliver $100 million over two years for projects that will prepare and protect Australian communities from future devastating flood events.

“There are several communities in Wide Bay including parts of Gympie, Maryborough, Noosa and smaller townships which can be prone to flooding and could benefit from this Program, funded under the Emergency Response Fund, to deliver priority flood mitigation infrastructure projects,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to investing in infrastructure projects that will reduce the impacts of major flood events, and the program will fund projects that support local communities to better withstand severe flood events and build resilience.

“This program is fully funded by the Australian Government and administered by the State, so I urge local governments to bring forward projects that will benefit their communities to the Queensland Government for consideration.”

The second round of the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will build on the success of the program last financial year, with a renewed focus by targeting levees, levee systems, infrastructure to promote flood plain restoration and specific green infrastructure initiatives that mitigate flood risk.

The Program Guidelines for the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program 2021-22 are now available and applications for funding are open to states and territories. The Program guidelines and application form are available at www.recovery.gov.au.

In addition to the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure initiatives, the Australian Government’s investment in resilience, risk reduction and preparedness also includes:

• $600 million Preparing Australia Program
• $4.5 million National Capability Package
• $37.1 million Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters (STAND) package to improve the resilience of Australia’s communications networks in bushfire and disaster-prone areas program funded under the $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund and the Mobile Black Spot Program
• $85 million Natural Hazards Research Australia, a new natural hazards and disaster resilience research centre for the next ten years
• $200 million Infrastructure Betterment Fund in New South Wales, jointly funded with the NSW Government, with $100 million from the Australian Government
• $261 million Disaster Risk Reduction Package, jointly funded with states and territories, with $130.5 million from the Australian Government.
• $11 million in additional funding for the National Aerial Firefighting Centre capability
• $2 million to ensure the availability and integrity of emergency alert systems
• $8 million to progress the Public Safety Mobile Broadband proof of concept trial in NSW.

The Australian Government is also building resilience into its recovery investments, such as the $2.8 billion for 2019-20 Black Summer bushfire recovery.