Banana Shire Council has received notification that approval for Government assistance has been given for Emergent works and Restoration works following the recent rain events between 10 November and 3 December 2021, causing flooding and damage across the shire.

Emergency Works

Emergency Works funding is to assist local governments and state agencies to undertake urgent activities necessary, following an eligible disaster event, to temporarily restore an eligible essential public asset to a condition which will enable it to operate/be operated at an acceptable level of efficiency to support the immediate recovery of a community.

This funding is to be used for works which will temporarily reopen access, or rectify damage which constitutes an immediate safety concern to the public (Road closures/ openings, Removal of debris on roadway, Silt removal for creek crossings, Filling of road scouring that are a major safety concern for road users, etc.).  This funding is not for the full rectification of all damage to Infrastructure within the Shire only what is of an immediate safety concern.  – Currently underway by Council

The condition of Council’s roads has deteriorated during the rain event and we encourage users to take care on these roads until they are rectified

Immediate Reconstruction Works

• Immediate Reconstruction Works funding is to assist local governments and state agencies to immediately and permanently reconstruct damaged essential public assets to pre-disaster function immediately after the eligible disaster event.

This is currently being evaluated by a consultant on Council’s behalf, to prepare a submission to QRA for acceptance of funding for an agreed scope of works. Work under this funding will be limited to construction required to ensure the safety of road users or eliminate the possible loss of infrastructure (eg. Undermining of a road surface/stormwater asset, Filling of road scouring that may not have impacted access but does impact the safety of road users, etc.). Reconstruction completed under this funding must be undertaken within the next 3 months. Reconstruction across the whole Council could potentially be over a couple of years.

Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets

• General Damage funding is to assist local governments and state agencies to reconstruct damaged essential public assets to pre-disaster function

This is currently being evaluated by a consultant on Council’s behalf, to prepare a submission to QRA for acceptance of the funding for an agreed scope of works.  Work under this funding will constitute the majority of the rectification works within the shire.  Construction under this funding will allow for the reconstruction of a damaged asset to its pre-event condition.  Approval of this funding can take months with reconstruction across the whole of the shire potentially being completed over a couple of years.

Please remember to drive to the current condition of the road at all times.