Funding boost to support Winton’s long-term flood recovery

December 17, 2020

• Grants of over $850,000 available in ‘Recovery and Resilience grants’ for 14 LGAs hardest hit by the 2019 North Queensland flood event.
• The grants are for projects that align with the region’s long-term recovery strategy, which was developed in close partnership with affected people, businesses and communities.
• Councils will work with their communities on locally-led solutions considered essential for recovery and to boost resilience.

Winton Shire will share in a $12 million funding boost from the Australian Government for recovery and resilience projects to support long-term recovery following the 2019 North Queensland flood event, Maranoa MP David Littleproud announced today.

Winton is among 14 shires eligible to apply for the ‘Recovery and Resilience’ grants program, with more than $850,000 per council available under Stream 1 of the $20 million program which opened yesterday.

Mr Littleproud said the funding would allow the Winton Shire Council to invest in projects that the community had decided were priorities for their futures.

“The grants continue the Australian Government’s ‘locally led, locally understood, locally implemented’ approach to supporting them following the event,” Mr Littleproud said.

“We’ve kept these grants flexible enough that councils, working with their communities, decide which projects get funded. They have until 31 March 2021 to submit their proposals.

“The money could be used for a range of projects – from workshops that build business skills and training in disaster recovery, public events that bring people to the town and attract tourists, and infrastructure projects like community facilities, emergency communications and water assets.”

Stream 2 of the program, which opens early next year, will see $8 million in competitive grants made available to the affected communities to the end of 2023.

The program is one of five measures totalling $60 million earmarked by the Australian Government to support ongoing recovery from the devastating event.

For more information on the long-term flood recovery strategy and the grant opportunities, visit: https://www.droughtandflood.gov.au/flood-recovery