Minister for the Environment and the Great Barrier Reef and Minister for Science and Youth Affairs

The Honourable Meaghan Scanlon

Close to $30 million will be invested by the Australian and Queensland governments to help environmental recovery in areas across the state impacted by recent floods.

Environment and natural resource management groups will be able to apply for the lion’s share of funding, with nearly $23 million on the table for locally-led riverine recovery projects.

While $3.5 million will be provided to Queensland’s Department of Environment and Science to address the conservation of threatened riverine and marine species impacted by the floods, including the Mary River turtle, sea turtles and dugongs.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Senator the Hon Murray Watt said it was part of the DRFA exceptional circumstances package to help impacted communities recover from and build resilience to natural disasters.

“The Environmental Recovery Program has been tailor-made to address the key environmental impacts from this year’s severe Queensland floods, and I’m pleased it includes grants to support locally-led recovery work,” Minister Watt said.

“Disaster recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Queensland Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said recent floods had caused gully erosion, streambank retreat and sedimentation in a number of riverine areas, with the potential for flow-on impacts to waterways down the line like the Great Barrier Reef, Great Sandy Strait, Moreton Bay and Gulf of Carpentaria.

“Queenslanders rallied to clean-up flood waste from our waterways – now begins the long-term task of restoring those damaged rivers and riverbanks,” Minister Scanlon said.

“This funding will help local groups who know their areas to plan and restore their local environments. They’re available for natural resource management groups, eligible First Nations Corporations and bulk water supply utilities to assess the environmental impacts of the floods and plan reconstruction works.

Minister Scanlon said environment and natural resource management groups could also apply for a share of $1 million to control feral plants and animals that may have spread as a result of flood waters or entered previously contained areas due to flood-damaged fences and gates.

“Weeds and feral animals pose serious threats to our ecosystems, farmland, tourism and recreation areas, and can spread as a result of floods.

“We know riverine damage and increases in pest species go hand-in-hand following natural disasters, which is why eligible environmental community groups can now apply for funding to tackle both issues.”

Another $800,000 will support the protection of privately-managed environmental assets with historical heritage and conservation values, and $850,000 has been committed to pest and weed management on national parks.

Further information about the grants can be found here: Environmental Recovery Grants | Environment, land and water | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

ENDS

Media contacts: 

Minister Watt: Tali Eley - 0499 770 772

Minister Scanlon: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078