With the Courier Mail and The Australian recently reporting that councils in Queensland will receive nearly $760m worth of disaster funding for regions that have been impacted by floods and fires, we asked the Gympie Regional Council want that means for us locally.
A spokesperson from the Council answered a number of questions, painting a better picture of has been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
“Council has applied for funding totalling approximately $112m,” the spokeswoman said.
Mayor Hartwig acknowledged that there were issues with the QRA (Queensland Reconstruction Authority) process that inhibited staff to get work done.
“I commend staff that have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to secure this funding, and we are pleased to have worked with the QRA to improve this process which will not only help us, but also other councils in the future,” he said.
The spokeswoman said a lot of that funding will be spent on REPA or the Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets.
“The majority of the funding will go to the restoration of essential public assets, with council’s road network being heavily impacted by the 2022 flood events.
“Council has also recently received funding to restore community and recreation assets, and undertaken additional studies to improve council’s understanding of flood events,” she said.
“Whilst the full list of roads that are likely to be funded under by REPA are on council’s website, we need to update it to include the recently approved community and recreation projects and flood risk management projects.
“This funding also includes the Resilient Homes Fund – Voluntary Home Buy-Back scheme.”
She said the council is continuing to work its way through the seemingly endless jobs resulting from the 2022 events.
“From an infrastructure perspective, the flood recovery effort is underway.
“Council’s internal workforce is progressing with gravel road reconstruction works and flood betterment projects,” she said.
“Council has awarded two contracts to external civil construction companies, however we are anticipating at least another six contracts will be required to deliver all REPA works.
“Council is working with QRA to expedite the remaining outstanding approvals for the balance of the REPA works.”
Part of the funding is going toward helping the council better prepare for future events and the spokeswoman detailed what some of these preparations look like.
“Council has received funding through the QRA’s Flood Risk Management Program to improve Council’s ability to prepare to future flood events, including:
* Additional flood modelling for Deep Creek, Six Mile Creek, and Boonara Creek catchments;
* Development of a floodplain risk management plan; and
* Improved flooding information within Council’s disaster management system, Guardian.
“Funding for flood mitigation works has not been secured to date,” she said.
The council wouldn’t be drawn to speculate how much further funding would be needed to complete all the projects that arose as a result of the 2022 floods.
