Joint media release with Matt Smith MP
New works to future-proof critical assets from extreme weather in the Cairns community have reached significant milestones with the soon to be completed coastal protection upgrades at Clifton Beach and the commencement of the Casuarina Street Bridge reconstruction - two critical projects supported by the Albanese Government.
Through the Albanese Government's Coastal and Estuarine Risk Mitigation Program, $1 million has been invested in a Cairns Regional Council led project at Clifton Beach which includes new breakwaters to protect this highly valued area against severe erosion caused by storm surges and cyclones.
The $25.4m reconstruction of the Casuarina Street Bridge at Holloways Beach to permanently restore access to properties cut off from the 2023 floods has begun, with support from the Albanese and Queensland government funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement (DRFA) and collaborative work with Cairns Regional Council.
Recognising the clear imperative to future-proof housing and drive down costs, the Albanese Government in conjunction with the Queensland Government and James Cook University is also helping to improve the resilience of strata title properties in North Queensland against future tropical cyclones through the $60 million Strata Resilience Program. This enables a range of retrofitting works to properties including replacing roofs, garage doors and the installation of shutters and screens.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Emergency Management, Josh Wilson
"The Albanese Government is committed to helping Queenslanders to reduce exposure to climate risks while building more resilient communities in the face of convergent and increasingly severe weather events.
"The incredible natural environment in Cairns makes it a special place to live. But the community faces the high risk of natural disasters - from flooding to bushfires - and we have to prepare for worsening conditions due to climate change. These works are part of the extensive work the Albanese Government is undertaking with all states and territories, and with local government, in disaster-prone areas like Cairns."
Quotes attributable to Member for Leichhardt, Matt Smith
"The coastal protection works at Clifton Beach and the reconstruction of the bridge at Holloways Beach are two major pieces of infrastructure I am so pleased to see being delivered.
"The community was hit hard and cut off during this time. When disaster strikes it does not discriminate, and having communities re-connected and come back more resilient than before with support of the Albanese Government, is essential, especially in our coastal towns."
BACKGROUND
The $50 million CERMP is driving long term resilience and sustainability by delivering priority projects mitigating the impact of disasters on communities and economies. Areas of focus for the program include:
- adaptation and resilience actions, including investment in grey infrastructure and green-blue infrastructure (which includes nature based solutions)
- planning, including local and regional risk assessments and mapping, business case development, preparation of community focused regional coastal management programs
- investment in monitoring infrastructure and activities to understand the coastal and estuarine zone over time.
A total of 34 projects were approved for funding including 10 projects in Queensland worth $12,915,439 million (including $8,382,598 million in Australian Government funding).
Through the DRFA, the Albanese government has cost-shared disaster assistance measures in forty North and Far North Queensland local government areas, from immediate recovery hardship assistance to medium and long-term exceptional assistance measures targeting affected industries, councils, small businesses and individuals.
