44 Councils now share $387m in disaster funding allocated in two weeks
Joint Media Release
Premier and Minister for Reconstruction
The Hon. Anna Bligh
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Minister Assisting the Attorney-General on Queensland Flood Recovery
Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig
Friday, April 01, 2011
Premier Anna Bligh and Federal Minister for Agriculture, and Minister Assisting the Attorney-General of Queensland Flood Recovery, Senator Joe Ludwig, today announced a further 14 disaster affected councils would benefit from advance funding injections to kickstart reconstruction efforts.
The Premier and Senator advised that in less than two weeks, a total of $387 million in advance funding had now been allocated to 44 affected councils meaning works could get underway as quickly as possible.
"In just nine working days we have now dispatched $387 million to 44 councils. Today’s additional $73 million adds to the $314 million announced last week.
“It is all moneys that have been accelerated to stimulate disaster-hit local economies," said Ms Bligh.
The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is working to assess and release funding to disaster affected regions as quickly as possible.
“Councils, not listed as yet, need not be concerned as there will be advance moneys available for them too,” she said.
The Authority is using, for the first time, a new process, to accelerate the flow of reconstruction dollars back into impacted communities.
Minister Ludwig said that under the long-standing Natural Disaster Recovery and Relief Arrangements (NDRRA) between the States and the Commonwealth, the Federal Government will be responsible for meeting up to 75% of these costs.
“Initial assessments have accelerated this $387 million to be released and now the Authority will further validate and substantiate council submissions before providing final authorisation to proceed," Senator Ludwig said.
"While some councils are still experiencing flooding issues and their ability to respond has been limited we assure them no one will be disadvantaged.”
“More than 80 per cent of this money will go towards reconstructing our massive road network - the lifeblood of our State," he said.
The total damage bill for councils is likely to top $2 billion.
"Rebuilding Queensland is our shared priority and today's third tranche of advance funding, in less than two weeks, shows how focused we are at getting on with the job,” he said.
The additional councils announced today are:
- Cairns Regional Council - $5.9M
- Croydon Shire Council $2.7M
- Hinchinbrook Shire Council - $17M
- Hope Vale Shire Council $712,000
- McKinlay Shire Council - $936,000
- Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council $1.4M
- Redland City Council $849,000
- Rockhampton Regional Council - $18.6M
- Scenic Rim Regional Council - $6.1M
- Sunshine Coast Regional Council - $693,00
- Western Downs Regional Council - $13M
- Winton Shire Council - $2.2M
- Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council - $309.000
- Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council - $2.1M
Already announced
- Balonne Shire Council - $4.1M
- Banana Shire Council - $7.2M
- Barcaldine Regional Council - 2.1M
- Bundaberg Regional Council - $7.1M
- Central Highlands Regional Council - $13.2M
- Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council - $80,586
- Cloncurry Shire Council - $1M
- Cook Shire Council - $3.6M
- Gladstone Regional Council - $18.3M
- Ipswich City Council - $20.7M
- Toowoomba Regional Council - $15.4M
- Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council - $323,460
- Blackall- Tambo Regional Council -- $2.9M
- Brisbane City Council - $54M
- Burdekin Shire Council - $1.7M
- Cassowary Coast regional -- $19.9M
- Etheridge Shire Council (Georgetown) -- $2.7M
- Fraser Coast Regional Council -- $2.1M
- Goondiwindi Regional Council -- $2.8M
- Gympie Regional Council -- $3.7M
- Lockyer Valley Regional Council -- $37.8M
- Mackay Regional Council -- $4.4M
- Moreton Bay Regional Council -- $2.8M
- North Burnett Regional Council -- $3.1M
- Somerset Regional Council -- $8.6M
- South Burnett Regional Council - $25.9M
- Tablelands Regional Council - $12.8M
- Torres Shire Council - $64,900
- Townsville City Council -- $25.2M
- Whitsunday Regional Council - $10M
Contacts:
Office of Premier Anna Bligh 07 32244500
Office of Senator the Hon Joe Ludwig 0400 082 352