$208 million Phase 4 extraordinary assistance package for ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and SEQ storms recovery
Communities hit hard by ex-Tropical Cyclone (TC) Jasper and the South East Queensland severe storms of Christmas 2023 will benefit from the latest injection of more than $208 million in long-term disaster recovery funding.
This support package is the fourth round of extraordinary assistance measures (Category C/D) jointly funded through the State-Commonwealth Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), and takes the total extraordinary funding provided to Queensland communities following the 2023-24 disaster season to more than $455 million.
It includes:
- $130 million Betterment Package to rebuild infrastructure to a more resilient standard for Local Government Areas (LGAs) impacted by ex-TC Jasper.
- $61.215 Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Package for LGAs impacted by ex-TC Jasper.
- $13.931 million Wujal Wujal Targeted Assistance Package recognising the specific damage to this community.
- $1.5 million for disaster-related legal assistance
- $1.5 million for monitoring and evaluation of all Category C and D packages supporting Queensland’s recovery to ex-TC Jasper and SEQ Storms events.
This latest assistance package builds on the immediate support provided to communities impacted by the 2023-24 disaster season, including more than $61 million in personal hardship assistance paid, assisting approximately 274,500 Queenslanders affected by ex-TC Jasper and the South East Queensland severe storms.
This includes payments Emergency Hardship Assistance benefitting over 72,000 people, and nearly $660,000 in Structural Assistance Grants distributed to eligible uninsured lower income residents.
Early recovery measures approved under the DRFA for LGAs impacted by ex-TC Jasper and the SEQ storm events, enabled families, farmers, businesses and councils in both FNQ and SEQ to undertake a range of activities to begin their recovery.
TC Jasper broke more than a century of flood records in December 2023 and caused hundreds of landslips across remote communities in Far North Queensland.
Two weeks later, a series of severe storms on Christmas evening 2023, saw lightning, heavy rain and powerful winds impact the south-east corner.
The rainfall and subsequent flash flooding closed roads and caused multiple landslips, with high winds destroying much of the electricity network and an enormous number of trees were felled.
The Queensland Government is committed to ensuring wherever and whenever disaster strikes, our communities receive the assistance they need to get back on their feet and look forward to a brighter tomorrow.
