Next step for devastated flood-hit regions

The federal government has rolled out the support to 27 local councils in NSW and to three in Queensland to repair roads and other infrastructure.

Many of those communities have been hit by several mass flooding disasters in the last few years and are still recovering from the damaging events.

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

Emergency Management Minister and Senator Murray Watt said the assistance would help counter future disasters and restore essential public assets.

“Some financial support has already been made available through the Commonwealth and State governments for the August floods, but councils are facing significant repairs to public assets damaged in the latest event, and our priority is to provide the support we can,” he said.

“The rain has flowed straight into local river systems, causing widespread flooding, has damaged roads and isolated communities.

“We want to be as proactive as we can to ensure funding to undergo repairs is accessible and used by local governments when the floodwaters recede.”

Mr Watt noted southwest Queensland was coming off its wettest winter in six years, while 11 of the LGAs in NSW were also disaster declared in August.

NSW Emergency Services and Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke said the move would ensure central west and northwest communities get the support they need.

“We know that with these types of floods it can take some time to understand and calculate the impacts of an event like this, particularly when some LGAs still have flooding throughout their regions due to river system flooding,” she said.

“We are continuing to assess the impacts of this event to ensure appropriate support is available.”

Queensland Acting Fire and Emergency Services Minister Mark Furner said the assistance would help the state’s three communities get back on their feet.

“Unseasonal wet conditions from a trough over southwest Queensland between 7-15 September brought severe thunderstorms and intense bursts of rain, which has damaged the local rural road network,” he said.

“The activation of the DRFA will ensure councils will not have to fork out for the clean-up activities and reconstruction costs in the long-term.

“This heavy downpour and flooding is a reminder of what could be in store as Queensland holds its breath at the thought of a third La Niña summer in a row.”

NSW residents can contact Service NSW to find out more, while Queenslanders can head to the Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s website.

Areas where disaster assistance is available:

NSW:

• Blayney
• Bogan
• Bourke
• Brewarrina
• Cabonne
• Cowra
• Dubbo
• Edward River
• Forbes
• Gilgandra
• Glen Innes Severn
• Greater Hume
• Gunnedah
• Gwydir
• Lachlan
• Lithgow
• Liverpool Plains
• Moree Plains
• Mid-Western
• Narrabri
• Narromine
• Tamworth
• Upper Lachlan
• Walgett
• Warren
• Warrumbungle
• Weddin

Queensland: