The Federal and Queensland governments have agreed on a $100 million fund to repair and build resilient roads and other public infrastructure in the cyclone-prone northern region.

The Betterment Fund and $14.5 million Water and Sewerage Infrastructure Program were announced last week in a statement seeking expressions of interest from councils.

“This Betterment Fund is the largest ever approved in Australia,” Queensland Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said.

“More resilient infrastructure means communities are better prepared for disasters, better able to endure when disaster strikes, and quicker to recover in the aftermath.”

The two funds are part of a $242 million package financed under the Commonwealth-Queensland Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

IAG has welcomed the two infrastructure programs.

“These communities regularly face the devastating impacts of severe natural disasters such as cyclones and floods, which place enormous physical, financial and social strain on individuals and communities,” CEO Peter Harmer said.

“By investing in making key infrastructure more resilient, we can help build stronger and more confident communities, which not only protects them today but makes them more resilient and better prepared into the future.”