More than a thousand low-income residents in the state’s regions will be given access to cash to make their homes better equipped to deal with cyclones as part of a federal government initiative. See if you qualify.
Tropical Cyclone Trevor has reached the Queensland coast at Lockhart River causing widespread damage.
The federal government will commit $20 million to allow up to 1100 homes in the state’s regions to be better prepared for disasters.
The investment is a continuation of state government scheme, which was successful in improving insurance premiums by more than 10 per cent – a major financial burden for residents in the state’s central and northern regions.
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the funding boost will allow Queenslanders to protect their homes with additions such as roof, garage door and house frame upgrades as well as window protection measures such as cyclone shutters or screens.
A house n Yepoon destroyed by Cyclone Marcia in 2015.
“Disaster response and recovery is important but if we can make homes more resilient and resistant to the kind of wild weather which has become more frequent in these parts in recent years, Queenslanders will be much better off,” he said.
Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the funding was the first announcement from the Albanese government’s new disaster ready fund.
“Reports show Australia spends far more on disaster recovery than it does on preparing for disasters, and that mindset needs to change,” he said.
The state government’s program has already improved the safety of more than 4300 homes, Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
A house in Yeppoon after Cyclone Marcia swept through in 2015. Photo Lisa Benoit / The Morning Bulletin
“With climate change making disasters more frequent and more extreme, our aim is to make Queensland the most disaster-resilient state in Australia,” the Premier said.
“So we are taking real action to minimise the devastating impacts of floods, fires, cyclones, storms, severe tides, and hail.”
The funding will be available for low-income residents within 50km of the coast from Bundaberg to the Northern Territory border.