New National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program
1st February 2021
The Australian Government has recently announced the establishment of a $50 million National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program to help Australian communities better prepare for extreme weather events and flooding.
The program has been established under the Emergency Response Fund and aligns with recommendations of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework, and findings of the State of the Climate Report 2020.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said the funding initiative will support state, territory and local governments to improve or construct essential public infrastructure to better withstand severe flood events.
Minister Littleproud said “We need to adjust our approach from focusing on our emergency services responding to major flood events, to all sectors of the community, including all levels of government, helping prevent and mitigate disasters”.
Emergency Management Australia, within the Department of Home Affairs, will lead the delivery of the program, bringing together emergency management and infrastructure experts from across the Australian Government.
Program guidelines advise “Only a state or territory government may apply for program funding. However, a state or territory government may use a third party to deliver the projects on its behalf including….. through funding a local government.”
“A co-contribution from state or territory governments and/or other appropriate funding partners is desirable but not essential”.
Applications close on 12 February 2021.
FMA President Ian Dinham said this type of investment in flood mitigation is exactly what all of us at FMA have been calling for over many years.
The Minister’s media release is at: https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidlittleproud/Pages/50-million-national-flood-infrastructure-initiative-building-on-resilience.aspx
