The CEO of Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Brendan Moon, has written to CEOs of all councils with advice from the Commonwealth on its latest Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Determination, to apply to events from 1 July 2017.
A copy of the QRA letter is available here.
As a result of representations made by councils, the LGAQ and the QRA, the Commonwealth has provided the QRA with some clarifications that address some common questions previously raised by councils.
The key points are:
- Water and sewerage infrastructure meets the definition of essential public infrastructure, and may be eligible for assistance where it provides services free of charge or at a rate that is 50 per cent or less of the cost to provide those services.
- Alternate value for money treatments to restore essential public assets may continue to be approved by QRA, without case-by-case Commonwealth approval, provided they do not change the level of functionality or utility of the asset that existed prior to the disaster event.
- Road transport assets including road furniture (signage traffic signals, lights, safety barriers), rock gabions and drainage structures will be considered essential public assets and eligible under NDRRA.
- Marine infrastructure such as beacons and guidance buoys will be considered as meeting the definition of essential public infrastructure.
- Boat ramps and jetties can no longer be assessed for eligibility by the QRA.
- Queensland is required to confirm the eligibility of each asset with the Commonwealth prior to restoration works commencing.
For further clarification of the Determination requirements, please contact Jimmy Scott, General Manager Operations, QRA.
For matters your council may wish to raise with the LGAQ, please contact Roland McMillan.