More than 180 mitigation projects from across the country have qualified for the Federal Government’s first funding round from the $1 billion five-year Disaster Ready Fund (DRF). 

The DRF starts next month, committing the Commonwealth to invest up to $200 million annually and matched by states and territories. 

Queensland and NSW – the two states that bore the brunt of last year’s catastrophic floods – will benefit from more than $150 million and $70 million respectively in combined investment into disaster prevention, through the Federal, State and delivery partner co-contributions. 

Victoria is in line for more than $54 million, SA $47 million, Tasmania nearly $30 million, and WA $18 million. 

More than 300 applications were submitted across all states and territories, seeking funding for a range of projects like flood levees and hazard warning systems, in collaboration with local councils and community groups. 

NSW has 19 projects that qualified for the first round of DRF application, including one to reduce flood and erosion risks in the Lismore river catchment on the North Coast. 

In Queensland one of its biggest projects – the $17.94 million South East Queensland Flood Resilience Program – will be split evenly between the Federal and State governments. The project will enhance energy security through increased resilience of high-risk power infrastructure, allowing supply to resume sooner if interrupted. 

Funding has also been allocated to forward-looking projects, not just ones that address immediate challenges.  

In Victoria a project for evidence-based, innovative, and cutting-edge approaches to involve young people as active agents in disaster management, preparedness, response and recovery, and community resilience building will receive more than $4 million in federal and state funding. 

“You’re seeing the funds going to a variety of different projects, some larger but some a lot of research smaller things, which I think is really positive,” KPMG Insurance Partner Scott Guse told insuranceNEWS.com.au. 

“A lot of it is about prevention too. So doing things to prevent things from happening is the way forward of the future.” 

Click here for the list of 187 projects. 

See ANALYSIS.