MEDIA RELEASE
Central Queensland communities will receive a further helping hand to recover from the 2018 bushfires with $4.1 million in grants awarded for community recovery and resilience projects.
The grants have been jointly funded by the Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Federal Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the grants would deliver 61 projects to drive recovery and build resilience.
“The 2018 bushfires really hit Central Queensland communities hard,” Minister Littleproud said.
“These grants are an opportunity to help local organisations continue to help their communities to recover and become more resilient.
“Queenslanders have shown great strength and community spirit which really helps during recovery from natural disasters.”
Minister O’Rourke said the many projects were chosen to not only assist with community recovery, but to build resilience against future disasters.
“These projects include improvement to community facilities, purchase of equipment to assist with disaster mitigation, monitoring and recovery, delivery of community recovery and resilience workshops and agriculture and tourism sustainability forums,” Mrs O’Rourke said.
“Projects receiving grants include the construction of a new shed and new tools for the Baffle Creek Men’s Shed, disaster preparedness for the Emerald Christian College, a disaster education and recovery trailer for the Gladstone Regional Council and a Bushfire Resilience Officer for the Livingstone Shire Council.”
The grants will also assist rural fire brigades in the region.
The Fitzroy Rural Fire Brigade Group will receiving a $49,390 grant to purchase an Incident Response Trailer and $7700 to construct firebreaks in fire-affected areas.
The Mount Larcom Rural Fire Brigade will receive $41,649 to establish a local disaster management and co-ordination centre at their facilities, while the Winfield Rural Fire Brigade will receive $15,131 to purchase a generator, air conditioner and rainwater tank.
The Flexible Funding Grants are jointly funded by the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) Category C Community Recovery Funds (CRF).
For more information, visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/recovery-after-disaster
