Flood-hit communities across north-west Queensland will receive an additional $38 million in recovery funding, with governments moving to support farmers, critical infrastructure and isolated towns.
The funding includes $21.5 million in Disaster Recovery Grants for primary producers across the shires of Carpentaria, Cloncurry, Croydon, Flinders, McKinlay, Richmond and Winton.
A further $11.5 million has been allocated for critical repairs and improved flood resilience at Cloncurry Airport, while an additional $5 million has been added to the previously announced $2 million emergency fodder package, extending support to producers across six flood-hit shires.
Speaking from Cloncurry, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the funding would ensure affected communities were supported as they worked to recover.
“This area is absolutely central to employment, to the national economy, as well as to the local economy,” he said.
“We are working closely with the Queensland government. We instituted it [the initial emergency fodder package] very quickly.”
Acting Queensland Premier Jarrod Bleijie said recovery teams were already on the ground across the north and north-west to assess damage and deliver support where it was needed most.
More Rain Expected
According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), widespread minor to major flooding is continuing across western and northern parts of Queensland, with more rain expected over the next few days.The BOM says a strengthening monsoonal weather system is expected to move across the northern part of the state on Jan. 7 and 8, pulling in large amounts of moisture from the tropics. In simple terms, this means warm, wet air is being drawn inland, increasing the chance of heavy rainfall.
“It’s going to draw in significant moisture and feed it into the risk of heavy falls across those far northern parts of Queensland through the later part of this week,” BOM said.
Showers and the risk of locally heavy rainfall are also expected to continue along the north-east tropical coast. BOM forecasts widespread rainfall totals of 100 to 150 millimetres or more across far northern Queensland in the coming days.
Meteorologists warn that heavy downpours could trigger flash flooding, posing risks to homes, roads and, in some areas, lives. Further road closures and prolonged isolation are likely where rivers remain swollen.
Ongoing wet and cool conditions are also expected to continue impacting agriculture and livestock in affected regions.
