Funding to help limit fire, flood dangers

NEW funding from the government will target flood and fire dangers in Toowoomba and the surrounds.

The region is one of many to benefit from the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund, which is investing $9.6 million in 49 projects across the state.

The Toowoomba Regional Council will receive $150,000 for floodway monitoring and warning systems.

“In the past decade, Queensland has seen more than 80 significant natural disaster events including devastating floods, catastrophic bushfires, severe tropical cyclones, and now COVID-19,” Emergency management Minister David Littleproud said.

“We’ll never be able stop disasters from impacting the state, but by investing in resilience and risk reduction today we can ensure Queenslander’s are better prepared for the future.”

This comes after an announcement of $6 million in funding for Queensland council areas heavily impacted by last year’s bushfires, part of the Local Economic Recovery program for Queensland.

The Scenic Rim Regional council has been awarded $67,500 under the LER program, to upgrade facilities in the Boonah Cultural and Community Hub.

The Queensland LER Program is open to local governments and Queensland government departments and agencies for projects in Toowoomba, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset, and Southern Downs council areas, alongside others in the state.

For more information visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/LER