Flooding causes more damage in Queensland than any other natural disaster. For example, the estimated social, financial, and economic cost to Queensland from the 2022 floods was $7.7 billion.
The 2023 State Disaster Risk Report identifies that managing flood risk is Queensland’s highest priority. The report states that climate projections indicate extreme rain events will become more intense, influencing the risk of both flash and riverine flooding.
To support recovery and resilience, the Queensland and Australian governments have invested in grant programs. This includes the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, which is intended to help homeowners affected by floods in late 2021 and early 2022, and the Queensland Betterment Fund, which has supported more than 930 projects across 70 local government areas. The Queensland Betterment Fund has provided over $1 billion to strengthen infrastructure and improve disaster resilience.
Who we plan to audit
- Queensland Reconstruction Authority
- Department of Housing and Public Works
- selected local governments.
Other entities who may form part of this audit include:
- Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning.
In this audit, we will assess how effectively the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and select local governments are using grant funding to make Queensland more flood resilient.