Shaping the future of our region

Remote communities could be left to foot million-dollar bills for critical disaster repairs and resilience works under proposed Federal Government changes to disaster recovery funding.

The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils is calling on the Federal Government to scrap a proposed move to 50:50 federal state funding, warning it would shift an impossible cost burden onto some of Australia’s most remote, disaster-exposed communities.

The North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils (NWQROC) is seeking an energetic and adventure driven appointee to be their inaugural Regional Waste Behaviour Change and Environmental Health Coordinator.

Reporting to the CEO to 30 June 2028, and based anywhere in North West Queensland, this split position will deliver two business functions for the benefit of NWQROC members and the broader communities they represent.

Disaster recovery policy must recognise the realities of place.

NWQROC does not support the proposed changes to Australia’s disaster recovery funding arrangements, particularly the move toward a 50:50 funding split between the Commonwealth and State.

Representatives from the North West Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils spoke at the Inquiry into Local Government Funding and Fiscal Sustainability held in Townsville today.

The hearing discussions provided an important platform for our region’s leaders to highlight the structural challenges facing councils across North West Queensland - one of Queensland’s most remote, geographically vast and economically significant regions.