The Queensland and federal governments have announced a $112 million disaster relief package to support recovery efforts following December’s wet weather.

The state says the jointly funded package will focus on communities and small businesses on the Gold Coast and reinforce responses to the southeast Queensland storms and ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper in the north.  

The program, provided through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, will allocate $51.3 million for environmental recovery, including projects cleaning debris from waterways and coasts, restoring environmental and cultural assets in national parks, and aiding investigations.  

A further $32.4 million will be directed towards human and social projects, including $22.9 million on community health and wellbeing programs. There is also $14.8 million for rebuilding community sporting facilities and $13.4 million for small business support. 

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says the funding will “provide much-needed assistance to Queenslanders who faced the worst of the storms and floods in December. We recognise the significant recovery work that’s already been undertaken by the local councils, community groups and Queensland government after the storms. 

“This latest round of funding marks an important shift from efforts focusing on the immediate recovery to mental health and wellness and setting the groundwork to build back better.”  

Queensland Disaster Recovery Minister Nikki Boyd says the funding will drive the next recovery phase. 

“When I visited the southeast Queensland communities, communities were already recovering and rebuilding,” she said.