MEDIA RELEASE
The Liberal Nationals Government is reducing the risk and impact to communities of large-scale natural disasters like floods, bushfires and cyclones by directly funding Byron, Tweed and Ballina Councils.
Senator for New South Wales, Perin Davey, said the Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local stream is the first tranche of the Preparing Australia Program, an investment by the Liberal Nationals Government of $600 million over six years to build the nation’s resilience to natural disasters.
“We understand the impact natural disasters have on communities, which is why we have focused on funding projects within the Byron, Tweed and Ballina Councils to help build resilience,” Senator Davey said.
“Byron Bay town centre flood mitigation drainage strategy, Tweed Sustainable Living Festival, and improvement to flood emergency management in Ballina will be funded over $2 million.
“Disasters currently cost Australian taxpayers $18.2 billion per year and this has been forecast to rise to $39 billion per year by 2050, even without increased frequency and intensity of weather events due to climate change,” Senator Davey said.
In delivering this program, the Liberal Nationals Government is not only increasing disaster preparedness and resilience, but also reducing the cost in time and money of recovery following future disasters.
There are three streams of the Preparing Australia Program:
- Preparing Australian Communities Program for projects of local significance (Communities Local program) – focussed on public risk reduction.
- Preparing Australian Communities Program for projects of National Significance – focussed on public risk reduction.
- Preparing Australian Homes Program – focussed on private risk reduction
For more information and a full list of projects funded under Round One of the Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local stream visit: https://recovery.gov.au/disaster-risk-reduction/preparing-australia-program
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