Twenty-five disaster resilience projects across Queensland are set to share in nearly $15 million through the Commonwealth and State Governments through the latest round of the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF) investment round.
“It’s clear that the more we do to prepare for disasters beforehand, the better off communities will be when we inevitably see more natural disasters and severe weather in the future,” said Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt.
“These grants are informed by local priorities, to address risks that local organisations have identified and create solutions to help them better prepare.
“This funding will support a range of disaster mitigation initiatives, disaster preparedness assets, technology innovations and resilient infrastructure right across Queensland.”
The projects approved for funding include:
- $1million for Central Queensland University to design green mobile energy hubs to enhance electricity network resilience during natural disasters;
- $529,530 and $206,427 for Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council and Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council, respectively, to deliver community power and communications resilience during natural disasters;
- Almost $998,000 supporting Resilient Building Council’s technical retrofit advice to 50 Brisbane households on building back better after the 2022 floods;
- $2 million to assist Noosa Shire Council to build hydraulic and embankment protection at Sunshine Beach;
- Nearly $2 million to help Reef Catchments Mackay and the Whitsundays protect the Great Barrier Reef from erosion with riparian, vegetation and wetland fencing;
- More than $276,000 toward refining the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service’s Clinical Heatwave Risk Reduction Tool for vulnerable patients;
- Almost $860,000 for QUT’s interactive Bushfire Disaster Risk Assessment and Reduction for Buildings software in bushland urban areas susceptible to potential ember attack;
- More than $306,000 to support disaster risk reduction for Indigenous Elders and seniors;
- $650,000 for disaster resilience training tailored to First Nations councils and tourism operators;
- $500,000 for a five-year review and update of the Brisbane River Floodplain Management Plan;
- Nearly $183,000 to start a Cloncurry flood study;
- Almost $152,000 on mapping and mitigating overland flow risk at Moore in the Somerset Region and;
- More than $548,000 for the University of Queensland to develop and install a network of hail monitoring stations.
QRRRF projects – co-funded by councils, not-for-profits and Queensland Government departments – are also backing remote area flood warning infrastructure, regional floodway upgrades, creek bank reprofiling, water supply resilience in Granville, Maryborough and a flood intelligence Dashboard at Mareeba Shire Council.
Over the last five years, the QRRRF has committed more than $76 million to 252 resilience building initiatives in urban and remote areas of Queensland.
“We know resilient Queensland communities are stronger communities and more likely to recover quickly from extreme weather and natural disasters,” said Queensland Disaster Recovery Minister, Nikki Boyd.
“We’re putting almost $15 million into initiatives from flood mapping, early warning systems and road upgrades to mobile energy and communication hubs to ensure communities are better prepared to respond and recover.
“Queensland is more susceptible to natural disasters than anywhere else in Australia, but these smaller resilience projects will make a big difference around the State,” she said.
