More than $200 million in new assistance measures for Tropical Cyclone Jasper recovery

13 December 2024

Communities affected by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper will benefit from a new round of disaster assistance courtesy of the state and federal government.

The funding injection of more than $206 million will fuel long-term disaster recovery and is the fourth round of exceptional circumstances measures (Category C/D) jointly funded through the Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Support includes:

  • $130 million Betterment Program to rebuild infrastructure to a more resilient standard.
  • $61.2 million Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Package to reestablish and upgrade services across Cook, Douglas and Mareeba LGAs.
  • $13.9 million Wujal Wujal Targeted Assistance Package.
  • $1.5 million for disaster-related legal assistance.
  • $1.5 million for monitoring and evaluation of relevant DRFA Category C/D packages.

The funds for legal assistance and monitoring and evaluation will be split between Far North Queensland and south-east Queensland communities, supporting Queenslanders affected by Jasper and the SEQ Christmas storms of 2023.

This latest DRFA investment takes total exceptional circumstances funding provided to Queensland communities following the 2023-24 disaster season to more than $455 million. 

It also builds on the immediate support provided to communities impacted by the 2023-24 disaster season, including more than $61 million in Personal Hardship Assistance paid out following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the SEQ storms, funds that have helped around 275,000 Queenslanders.

This includes Emergency Hardship Assistance payments benefitting over 72,000 people, and nearly $660,000 in Structural Assistance Grants distributed to eligible uninsured lower income residents.

Early recovery measures approved under the DRFA for LGAs impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper and the SEQ storm event have helped families, farmers, businesses, councils and community groups across the north and south.

After Tropical Cyclone Jasper crossed the Far North Queensland coast in mid-December 2023, the associated rainfall and flooding went on to break more than a century of flood records.

Two weeks later, a series of severe storms on Christmas evening 2023 saw lightning, heavy rain and powerful winds carve a destructive path through the south-east corner.

The sheer scale of impacts from both disaster events combined with the remoteness of many communities, particularly in the Far North, have made recovery efforts these past 12 months no simple task.

QRA will continue to ensure all DRFA funds are well used in Queensland and achieve meaningful outcomes for Queenslanders.