Community & Business
26 March, 2025
Mareeba gets recovery funding
MAREEBA has been included in the list of recipients for disaster recovery packages worth more than $50 million, announced by the state and federal governments.
The packages are targeted for North and Far North Queensland regions, following the North and Far North Queensland flooding last month.
Funded under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the latest tranche of extraordinary disaster assistance includes:
• A $30 million Sport and Recreational Community Facilities Recovery Program to rebuild and carry out repairs on flood-impacted sport and rec facilities;
• A $20 million Community and Recreational Assets Recovery Program, to repair and rebuild affected community facilities; and
• An increase to the previously announced $25,000 Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants to $75,000 for primary producers, and $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profits.
Assistance has been extended to include Mareeba Shire Council, as well as Aurukun, Burke, Doomadgee, Mareeba, Mornington, Mount Isa, Napranum and Torres Councils.
The support will fund councils’ clean-up and recovery, including emergency repairs and long-term reconstruction of the road network.
Councils receiving the support now stands at 38.
The uplift to recovery grants for primary producers, small business and not-for-profits would be a welcome boost, Minister for Emergency Management Jenny McAllister said.
“North and Far North Queensland farmers are so important to the region and local economy. Today we are tripling the grant available to primary producers to help get recovery started,” she said.
“I want to thank local leaders and industry for their work as the impact has been assessed. These increases will mean more funding for stock feed, repair works and debris removal.”
Minister for Regional and Rural Development Dale Last said agencies had been on the ground listening and delivering.
“The TV cameras might have gone down south, but we’re with North Queensland for the long run,” he said.
“The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority is well prepared for this significant uplift, with staff in North Queensland ready to assist eligible producers, small businesses and not-for-profits.”
