Mayors fight for funds
PAUL Antonio joined a chorus of Queensland mayors calling on the National Bushfire Recovery Agency to provide more money for fire victims.
He was disappointed Toowoomba, along with the Lockyer Valley and Somerset Regional Councils missed out on a $1.3 million grant announced last week.
Instead, the money will flow to local government areas across Australia that were hit hardest by bushfire.
“I think we have been poorly done by in terms of funding,” Cr Antonio said.
He wanted the money to be spent on repairing Cressbrook Dam pumping station, hazard reduction burns along the Toowoomba Range escarpment and helping farmers fix repair fencing.
Local Government Association of Queensland CEO Greg Hallam added to the calls for more money.
He said Queensland councils deserved equal treatment.
“The government should not be playing favourites with disaster-hit communities,” Mr Hallam said.
“The Commonwealth collects 80 per cent of all taxes – it should be supporting all communities in their recovery, not just some.”
The Qld Government minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Cameron Dick said the decision had been made with no engagement, no consultation and “a complete lack of understanding of the impacts on Queensland communities”.
The NBRA said it had taken guidance from the states and not the federal government when it decided who got what money.
An agency spokesman said the states flagged the areas hardest hit by fire.
Also the areas that missed out on the finding would be eligible for other cash later.
“In determining advice to government on funding matters, the NBRA takes into account a range of information, including population, quantum of disaster assistance available, proportion of land area burnt and social factors,” he said.