To make communities more resilient to severe weather events, the Albanese Government will provide $200 million in funding to support 96 projects in every state and territory.
Combined with contributions from states, territories and other partners, total funding for these projects will total almost $350 million.
These projects have been successful through Round Three of the Albanese Government’s flagship $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).
Funding will go towards projects that will implement measures to reduce bushfire risks, construct flood protection infrastructure, build cyclone shelters, boost flood resilience, and deploy advanced warning systems for natural hazards.
Through Round Three of the DRF, more than $138 million will be invested in 41 infrastructure projects, with construction commencing immediately. These projects are set to safeguard Australian communities and help build resilience as natural disasters become more frequent and intense.
Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the third round of investment builds on the work delivered by the Government to make Australia more resilient to natural hazards.
“Australians are no stranger to the floods, bushfires, and cyclones that impact us year-on-year – that’s why the Albanese Government established the Disaster Ready Fund, providing up to $1 billion over five years,” Minister McBain said.
“Round Three will benefit all 538 local government areas across all states and territories. From cyclone shelters on Palm Island to flood mitigation planning for Launceston.
“Crucially, Round Three brings our investment to make Australia more resilient through the DRF to $600 million – and I’d like to thank many of the project proponents for matching our funding.”
This latest investment builds on the two previous rounds of the DRF, with $400 million in Australian Government funding already awarded to over 350 projects. Nearly half of these projects are in pre-construction or construction/delivery phase, with 43 projects already nearing completion or complete.
Examples of successful DRF Round Three projects include:
- Northern Territory: $594,000 in Commonwealth funding for an Emergency Coordination Facility will be developed for the Alice Springs Town Council, enhancing local disaster response capabilities.
- New South Wales: $14,174,095 in Commonwealth funding for the Narrandera Urban Stormwater Upgrade to mitigate the impacts of 1 in 100-year flood events.
- Western Australia: $895,114 in Commonwealth funding for increasing Karajarri Ranger Capacity to mitigate extreme wildfire risks.
- Victoria: $6,454,104 in Commonwealth funding for the Numurkah Flood Mitigation – construction of two ring levees.
- Queensland: $14,620,000 in Commonwealth funding for the Palm Island Cyclone Shelter – an 800-person cyclone shelter and evacuation centre.
- South Australia: $1,600,634 in Commonwealth funding for the Building Wakefield’s Flood Resilience – an infrastructure project to protect Townsvale Estate, Balaklava.
- Tasmania: $540,000 in Commonwealth funding for the Launceston Flood Mitigation Plan.
- Australian Capital Territory: $421,240 in Commonwealth funding for the Flash Flood Warning System – using flood data and modelling to provide timely, location specific, relevant warnings to the community.
The full list of successful projects supported by DRF Round Three is available at Disaster Ready Fund.
