THE North West has been experiencing very different weather conditions throughout the whole region with many shires still partially in drought and other councils have been activated for Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) assistance as a result of flooding.
Councils that have been activated in the North West from the rainfall event in mid-January consist of Diamantina, Boulia, Mount Isa and McKinlay. Activation applications have been submitted by Richmond and Flinders Shire councils.
Once approval has been received councils are able to undertake inspections and develop submissions which quantify the damage to council assets and associated restoration cost. The submissions are based on reinstating the asset to the pre-existing condition: that is the condition of the asset prior to the damage being incurred.
Chair of the North West Queensland Regional Roads & Transport Group, Mayor John Wharton has stated that this NDRRA/QRA reinstatement of assets is a very important part of local government’s partnership with both Federal and State Governments.
“Without the Federal and State Government support for this program, councils would be totally unable to fix this flood damage and reinstate the asset or road infrastructure as the cost would be prohibitive,” Cr Wharton said.
“The only way councils could continue to repair roads damaged by flooding would be a significant increase in rates, and that would put many businesses in a poor equity position,” he said.
“This is a program that is extremely important to the future of not only councils, but contractors and staff that work for council, and Department of Transport & Main Roads (TMR) staff that are involved in road construction and maintenance.
“It also is very important to the cattle industry, transport industry, mining industry and tourism. We have some major damage on a state controlled road in our shire, Richmond to Winton Road, and TMR are presently assessing that application themselves, as it is their road.
“At our next Regional Roads & Transport Group meeting in Hughenden on March 13, all councils in North West Queensland will be discussing many issues, including flood damage, with TMR staff who will be attending from Brisbane and the Northern (Townsville) and North West (Cloncurry) Districts."
