The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) has backed the Federal Government allocating another $50 million to support priority flood mitigation infrastructure works across the country.

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie announced today applications have opened for the funding, which is from the Emergency Response Fund set up in 2019.

ICA says its long held position is that over the medium to long-term only physical mitigation measures - along with improving building standards and quality, and making informed land use planning decisions - will increase protection against flood for at-risk Australian communities.

“[Ms] McKenzie’s announcement of this extra funding is an important step in protecting Australians' homes and businesses, increasing the physical and financial resilience of property and business owners in flood-exposed communities,” ICA CEO Andrew Hall said.

“We congratulate the Government and Minister McKenzie on today’s welcome announcement and for taking further steps towards improving the resilience of Australian communities.”

Ms McKenzie says the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will now deliver $100 million over two years for projects that will prepare and protect Australian communities from future devastating flood events.

“This funding… is delivering priority disaster mitigation projects for the states and territories,” she said.

“The foundations of our commitment to supporting state, territory and local governments to construct or improve essential public infrastructure to prepare for extreme weather events and flooding through the first round of the program remain strong.”

The second round of the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program will build on the success of the program last financial year, with a renewed focus in targeting levees, levee systems, infrastructure to promote flood plain restoration and specific green infrastructure initiatives that mitigate flood risk.

“This round of the program was determined by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency through evidence-based decisions surrounding the types of projects that best support local communities to better withstand severe flood events and align with the objectives of the Emergency Response Fund,” Ms McKenzie said.

“We will continue to commit to building Australia’s resilience to natural disasters – a long-term strategy to ensure we’re a step ahead when the next disaster hits to reduce the future burden of recovery on communities.”