Flood mitigation, Indigenous culture at Tidbinbilla, mental health, and climate-resilient infrastructure are among the 13 ACT projects funded under the Federal Government’s new Disaster Ready Fund.

The Fund, a Labor election commitment, delivers national long-term mitigation funding to help protect communities from natural disasters.

Mick Gentleman, ACT Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and Senator Murray Watt, Federal Minister for Emergency Management, said the ACT will be better protected and prepared for future natural disasters.

Local funded projects include:

• Climate change and flood-resilience improvements to infrastructure for visitors to the ACT
• Future-proofing of eroding landscapes and waterways to improve water quality entering the Cotter Dam
• Flood studies and monitoring systems
• A First Nations partnership to reduce risk and enhance culturally-led initiatives
• Ngunnawal culture enhancement and protection at Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve
• Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve rim trail
• Developing a disaster-resilient investment framework for ACT Reserve assets
• Infrastructure to mitigate urban flooding
• Resilience strategies for National Arboretum Canberra and Stromlo Forest Park
• Community engagement, education, and preparedness
• Disaster recovery mental health and wellbeing resilience and preparedness
• A mass care strategy for the ACT
• ACT community disaster risk knowledge hub

The ACT and Federal Governments will invest more than $14 million in the first round of the Fund.

Mr Gentleman said the funding will build greater resilience for communities and infrastructure.  

“The ACT faces the threat of bushfires, storm damage, and floods every year as natural disasters are becoming more common and more dangerous due to climate change.

“The Federal Government funding is being matched by the ACT, and will make a real difference where it’s needed most.”

Nearly 70 per cent of Australians were impacted by storms, floods, cyclones and bushfires in 2022 alone, signalling the urgent need to take decisive action, Mr Watt said.

“As a country, we invest far more in recovering from disasters than we do defending against them, and that mentality has got to change.

“This is about more than just bricks and mortar. We are changing the way Australia deals with natural disasters by planning better for the future to ensure that communities all around the country are better prepared, less exposed, and in the best possible position to recover when disasters strike.

“This is just one step in our commitment to disaster reduction and mitigation – working with state and territory governments to better protect and prepare Australians for future disasters.”

Over the last year, the Federal Government has paid out more than $2.7 billion in recovery and resilience programs and payments to support individuals and communities impacted by natural disasters.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will work with each jurisdiction to provide funds as soon as possible from July. Projects must be completed within three years.

State and Territory governments submitted applications for projects to improve mitigation and resilience, in collaboration with local Councils and community groups.

More than 300 applications were submitted across all states and territories. Successful projects were selected after NEMA assessed their merit.

More information on the Disaster Ready Fund, including updates about Round Two of the Disaster Ready Fund, can be found on NEMA’s website.