The Australian Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Agency says it is working at full speed, with risk reduction and disaster recovery functions of Emergency Management Australia and the Rural Financial Counselling Service program joining the Agency
It is delivering on the recommendations of the 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, with more federal disaster recovery, risk reduction and preparedness functions joining the National Recovery and Resilience Agency today, as well as the Rural Financial Counselling program, a critical resource for farmers.
Coordinator-General the Hon Shane L Stone AC QC said it was a significant milestone and the new arrangements are already making a difference to Australian communities.
“Prime Minister Scott Morrison established the NRRA on 5 May, bringing together the National Bushfire Recovery Agency and the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency as part of a staged transition.
“And the rubber is already hitting the road with support for flood and bushfire recovery getting out the door since the Prime Minister’s announcement,” Mr Stone said.
“As we have done since the North Queensland floods in 2019, we will keep turning up, keep listening and keep doing what we can to make sure support is available at the right time and in the right way for local communities.
“We are also working to reduce the impacts of disasters, rather than just cleaning up after them. We will increase the focus on mitigation, preparation and resilience, reducing the social, economic and environmental impacts of large-scale disasters.”
Achievements since 5 May include
• Approval of 219 new Local Economic Recovery projects across Victoria and NSW ($148.7 million Australian Government funding, $297.5 million total jointly funded with the states)
• $1.5 million out the door in Restocking, Replanting and On-farm Infrastructure Grants for primary producers impacted by the 2019 North Queensland Monsoon flood (Australian Government funding)
• 58 Recovery and Resilience Grants (stream 1) projects approved (almost $12 million Australian Government funding, of which $3.5 million is already out the door); and over $14 million for projects that ensure more affordable and reliable internet, phone and electricity announced today. This is part of the $58 million in grants specifically for 14 local government areas hardest hit by the 2019 North Queensland floods.
To assist bushfire impacted communities to continue on their recovery, the NRRA today released guidelines for its $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants, ahead of applications opening later this month.
To make it easier for communities to apply for the upcoming grants, the NRRA is offering free support including workshops and webinars.
$1.6 billion from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund has been spent and the balance remains available to support communities impacted by the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Further information about the National Recovery and Resilience Agency: www.recovery.gov.au Information about grant workshops and guidelines for the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants: recovery.gov.au/black-summer-grants
