A $75 million flood recovery program will be a cornerstone of Ipswich City Council’s 2023-2024 Annual Plan and Budget, targeting work on the city’s roads, parks and facilities hit hard by the 2022 floods.
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Chair Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said council had moved from the flood clean-up stage to major restoration and repairs.
“Some of Ipswich’s most beloved parks and public spaces, such as Colleges Crossing Recreation Reserve and Kholo Botanic Gardens, were hit hard by the floods in February 2022,” Mayor Harding said.
“Council is making great inroads on the necessary restoration work for these public assets and ensuring we can make them much more resilient, including recently completing successful community engagement on a new design for Colleges Crossing.
“This annual plan and budget will deliver a further $25 million of works this year in our open spaces and facilities.
“Another $38 million of works will be undertaken to repair our sealed roads and drains impacted by the floods, and $12 million for repairs on gravel roads.”
Flood recovery funding is provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Growth, Infrastructure and Waste Committee Deputy Chairperson Councillor Paul Tully said the flood recovery funding was critical to Ipswich’s progress on managing the ongoing impacts from the 2022 floods.
“More than $120 million total committed to flood response and recovery work last year and this coming year shows not only how serious the damage was from the 2022 floods in February and May, but how serious council is about restoring our public assets sustainably,” Cr Tully said.
“Council works closely with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority to maximise the funding support provided to us under the Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements.
“This funding will allow us to progress with our program of works across the next financial year and see more of Ipswich’s popular parks and open spaces restored but made more resilient to future floods, including River Heart Parklands which was hit hard by the February floodwaters.”
