Burdekin Shire Council and Whitsunday Regional Council will be able to reinforce their regions’ resilience to natural disasters thanks to more than $670,000 in funding through the Federal and Queensland Governments’ Managing Disaster Risk program.

The funding will enable the Burdekin Shire Council to implement conduct drainage upgrades as well as purchase three gravity sandbag fillers for flood emergencies.

Although heavy rains, cyclones and floods are a part of life here in North Queensland, we still need the infrastructure to deal with them.

Effective drainage and fast access to sandbags can be the difference between someone’s house or business going under during a storm.

It’s terrific to see more than $600,000 in funding allocated to further prepare the Burdekin region for future adverse weather events.

Whitsunday Regional Council’s funding or more than $73,000 will enable them to purchase two new fuel trailers and a generator for the SES building will enable them to continue providing critical services during power outages.

This funding will enable Whitsunday Regional Council to purchase equipment to keep critical services going during any power cuts and minimise disruption for local residents.

It’s a welcome boost to the Whitsundays and will ensure the region is better prepared.

Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said projects were chosen to assist communities deal with future natural disasters, with a significant proportion going to remote communities.

“The 82 projects include extensive road, floodway and levee upgrades, flood and river studies, and disaster management workshops across Queensland,” Minister McKenzie said.

“The projects funded under Managing Disaster Risk are intended to provide continued support across the areas impacted by the 2019 monsoon trough.

“Funding is also being made available to support the wellbeing of Queenslanders impacted by natural disasters, acknowledging the impact these events have on communities – not only in the immediate aftermath of the event, but in the medium and long term recovery phases as well.”

Projects funded throughout the Dawson electorate include:

Burdekin

• Stormwater drainage upgrade – Chippendale Street: $570,000

• Provision of three dual gravity sandbag fillers: $33,000

Townsville

• Ross River – Environmental Flow Path Resilience and Risk Study: $143,250

• Sleeper Log Creek Flood Impact, Resilience and Risk Analysis: $112,000

Whitsundays

• Generators & Fuel Trailer Project: $73,800

The QRRRF is administrated by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments as part of its five-year National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction.

For the full list of projects, visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/qrrrf.