General News
14 August, 2024
River focus of flood studies
REMOTE parts of the Bloomfield River catchment, including Wujal Wujal, Ayton and Degarra, will be the focus of new flood studies to help communities prepare for future extreme weather after unprecedented inundation over summer.
The $7.73 million Far North Queensland flood risk management package will harness the latest data for critical flood studies of the Bloomfield River catchment to build the clearest picture possible of disaster risk.
Repeated and compounding natural disasters in FNQ, particularly across Cook, the Tablelands and Mareeba, have tested the resilience of entire communities.
The $6.27m Northern Queensland bushfires package will invest in mental health support, community health and wellbeing, agricultural industry recovery and resilience officers, and recovery grants for rural landholders. Member for Cook Cynthia Lui said “recovery from this extraordinary disaster season remains challenging for many Far North Queenslanders and we must use our recent experiences to learn and plan for the future”.
“I know the $7.73m the Miles government is investing in flood studies on remote stretches of the Bloomfield River catchment will be welcomed by local communities,” she said.
“After the devastation of Wujal Wujal, Degarra and Ayton, the new data to be incorporated into the Bloomfield River flood studies is about building resilience and peace of mind.”
Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said there were no quick fixes for recovery from the natural disasters experienced by Far North Queenslanders in the last 12 months.
“Recovery can be long and testing for residents, small businesses and primary producers, and requires extra investment to overcome the trauma of repeated extreme weather,” he said.
“Through the Northern Queensland bushfires package, the Miles government is backing communities with more support for mental health and wellbeing, and recovery for farmers.”
Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd said the government was doing what matters for the recovery of communities in Far North Queensland after the ferocity of record-breaking bushfires, floods and cyclones last disaster season.
“We’re channelling $14m in efficiencies from past DRFA programs back into the Far North to help communities bounce back,” she said.
“Natural disasters are a fact of life in Queensland, and they seem to be becoming more frequent and extreme. This additional $14m for Far North Queensland brings targeted support for mental health and wellbeing, and investment to help boost community recovery from future disasters.”
