NWQ councils target regional impact with resilience funds

News2025
Written By Aleisha Domrow

MEDIA RELEASE - 14 February 2025

The councils of North West Queensland have welcomed a new approach to building resilience in their communities with Federal Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister confirming delivery of resilience project funding today.

Picture: McKinlay Shire Council - Flooded Flinders Highway

The latest in North Queensland Resilience Program funding will support the delivery of regionally prioritised projects aimed at increasing resilience and reducing the impacts of future events on communities significantly impacted by flooding events in 2019 and 2023.

Local governments from across the disaster-hit areas of north and Far North Queensland will share in $84.8million to be administered by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) with 10 north west councils securing $45 million to support locally identified regional resilience projects.

NWQROC Chair Mayor Barry Hughes said the projects go to the heart of the region’s ability to be resilient in the event of a disaster with the regionally focused, allocative approach developed through this round a welcome mechanism for the rural and remote councils.

“Funds will target rehabilitation and upgrades to key infrastructure including roads, causeways, airstrips and community facilities, helping keep our communities and business safe and providing operational capacity through disaster events,” Mayor Hughes said.

“These projects will mean we can more effectively protect our region’s communities, environment and economy during a disaster and know we’ll come out the other side in better shape.

“Through the ROC we have negotiated with the QRA to deliver projects that, while within a council area, have benefits beyond the council boundaries to improve regional outcomes.”

For NWQROC and local councils this new approach delivers on key elements of advocacy work which at its core calls for engagement and understanding at a local and regional level on programs and investment.

“We have already done the work in our local and regional resilience plans, so this new approach is a logical step to put that work into action and implement those plans in a more strategic and longer-term way,” he said.

“This stands in contrast to the traditional funding model where the funds are committed and through competitive bidding processes you may or may not be successful or adequately funded to meet your priority.

“With guidelines from the QRA and a clear regional requirement, we knew where we stood – from the local level councils put forward their priorities to NWQROC for region-level consideration and approval. From there we were able to negotiate and lock in our priority projects with the QRA.

“Congratulations to QRA on the approach taken. We appreciate the efforts from the QRA team in working with councils to ensure our applications met program requirements and deliver these important projects for our community.”

NWQROC’s advocacy in this space continues with the final report of the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding (also known as the Colvin Review) to improve disaster funding arrangements yet to be adopted.

“Together with colleagues in the Western Queensland Alliance of Councils (WQAC) the councils of the north west provided a submission to the review ahead of a final report being handed down late last year,” Mayor Hughes said.

“On initial assessment the report incorporates a number of the positions taken in the WQAC submission, however, there are areas of concern that require further investigation.

“The WQAC has provided a response to the final report requesting further consultation on the recommendations and highlighting the areas of concern.”

“This announcement today demonstrates what can be achieved when government prioritises working with the regions, and we hope it stands as a framework going forward across all areas of investment,” he said.

-- ENDS –

Aleisha Domrow
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