Qld govt announces disaster funding for high-risk councils

A new funding program from the Queensland Government to help councils in high risk, cyclone-prone coastal areas.

11 November, 2021

Disaster plan ‘empowers’ vulnerable towns

From highly-equipped communities to new disaster dashboards, councils are focusing on preparedness and information in their approaches to emergency management.

21 June, 2018

New body to coordinate natural disaster recovery

New national resilience taskforce welcomed but councils seek federal mitigation program to fund local recovery.

17 April, 2018

Lucas takes on Local Government

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has unveiled her new Cabinet, following the recent resignation of two senior ministers. The reshaped Cabinet included portfolio responsibilities for three new ministers as well as changes to portfolios. Deputy Prime Minister Paul Lucas was handed responsibility for the local government portfolio, while the Premier took on Minister for Reconstruction. Ms Bligh […]

21 February, 2011

Negotiations underway for extra NDRRA funding

By Angela Dorizas Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has taken up local government’s campaign for additional funding under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). Ms Bligh met with Prime Minister Julia Gillard earlier this week to seek NDRRA funding for the repair and reconstruction of local government’s water, sewerage and transport infrastructure. Ms Bligh told Parliament […]

17 February, 2011

Rockhampton Mayor wants recovery commitment

Rockhampton Regional Council has requested the Prime Minister not forget the region when distributing funds to aid in the recovering from "act of god".   Mayor Brad Carter said the Council wants a commitment that the region won’t be forgotten when money starts to be distributed from the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). […]

15 February, 2011

Premier backs disaster affected councils

By Angela Dorizas Councils affected by recent disasters in Queensland have called on the Commonwealth to allow reconstruction of public infrastructure, such as water and sewerage facilities, to be paid for under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA). NDRRA funding is provided to States and Territories to help cover the costs of natural disaster […]

15 February, 2011

Public Works on frontline of recovery effort

Around 90 QBuild workers from Brisbane have been deployed to cyclone-affected communities, Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten has announced. The workers will join 160 local QBuild field staff working in devastated communities from Cairns to Townsville. Mr Schwarten said this included “ground zero” communities, such as Innisfail, Silkwood, Mission Beach, Tully and Cardwell. "They are […]

8 February, 2011

Yasi turns catastrophic

By Lilia Guan   Tropical cyclone Yasi has been upgraded to category five by the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).   The cyclone has been described by BOM as a “large and very powerful tropical cyclone that poses an extremely serious threat to life and property within the warning areas – especially between Cairns and Townsville”. […]

2 February, 2011

North Queensland braces for Yasi

Communities in North Queensland are bracing for tropical cyclone Yasi. In its latest forecast, the Bureau of Meterology (BOM) warned that the large and powerful Category 3 cyclone is expected to slowly intensify overnight as it moves westward over the Coral Sea. Damaging winds with gusts up to 90 km/hr are expected to extend further […]

1 February, 2011

Not the first firestorm: Learning from Canberra

On January 8, 2003, lightning strikes in the ACT and surrounding area sparked four intense fires. They combined to form a fierce firestorm that advanced into suburban Canberra on January 18 and devastated the community. On that day four people died, 49 people were hospitalised and 440 people required outpatient care. When the smoke cleared, […]

10 February, 2009