A $14m upgrade to a Western Cape aerodrome is among a raft of measures funded by the federal government to harden the state’s Far North against disasters made more extreme by climate change. Read about the other projects funded.
‘Prepare with a repair’ SES Far North Region Director Wayne Coutts advice ahead of severe weather
The government’s Disaster Ready funding will go towards building vital infrastructure like flood levees, seawalls and hazard warning systems that will help protect lives, homes and critical public infrastructure across Australia.
Projects announced for the Far North included $14m for upgrades to the Pormpuraaw aerodrome, almost $50,000 for mitigation works at Napranum and other areas prone to flooding and $50,000 towards building evacuation and sheltering capacity in Cairns.
Cairns-based Senator Nita Green said the expansion to the Pormpuraaw facility was to ensure it could logistically cope during a natural disaster.
“So we can get planes and helicopters in there, and we can get supplies and people in and out,” she said
“Cairns and the Far North is one of the places where it is just a part of life when the next cyclone or disaster will hit.”
Senator Green said the projects in northern Queensland included upgrades to aerodromes, emergency generators, disaster and evacuation shelters, flood levees, as well as infrastructure resilience upgrades.
“North and Far North Queensland faces the threat of bushfires, floods, and cyclones every year and natural disasters are becoming more common, and more dangerous due to climate change,” she said.
Senator Green and Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain announced the first round of funding at the Norship shipyard on Wednesday.
Senator Nita Green and Regional Development Minister Kristy McBain at the Norship shipyard on Wednesday to announce projects receiving funding through the government’s Disaster Ready Fund. Photo: Dylan Nicholson
Ms McBain, who is touring the Far North region this week, said the funding would support local governments across Queensland to be better prepared and become more resilient when faced with future natural disasters.
“In my own electorate of Eden-Monaro in New South Wales, we have experienced 35 declared natural disasters since 2016, which is why I know how devastating these events are for communities of all sizes and the mess they leave behind,” Minister McBain said.
“Having been a local mayor during nine of these events, I understand the significant role local governments play both during and after disasters, which is why we are listening to what councils need, and supporting them to strengthen critical infrastructure, which will mean that when future disasters strike, their communities will be safer and better placed to respond and recover.”
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