REDLANDS Coast and Bayside communities could be left carrying a greater share of the cost of floods, storms, bushfires and coastal damage under proposed Federal changes to disaster recovery funding, Redland City Council has warned.
But Federal Member for Bonner Kara Cook says the proposed new framework will make disaster claims simpler and faster for councils and does not change arrangements for local governments.
Redland City Acting Mayor Julie Talty said Council modelling showed Redlands would have received almost $2 million less in disaster recovery support since 2018 had the proposed model been in place.
“Redland City Council supports the Australian Government’s objective to simplify disaster recovery funding and ensure assistance reaches disaster-affected communities more quickly,” Cr Talty said.
“However, Council is concerned the proposed framework will significantly reduce support available to local communities and shift more of the financial burden onto state and local governments.”
Since 2018, Redland City Council has received $13.9 million in disaster recovery funding across five natural disaster events.
The proposed overhaul would replace the current Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, under which the Commonwealth contributes an average 64 per cent of Queensland’s eligible disaster recovery costs – rising to 75 per cent for some categories – with a fixed 50-50 split between Canberra and the states.
However, Ms Cook said the reforms would not alter the arrangements councils rely on.
“We are currently consulting with the states and territories and councils on our proposed new Disaster Recovery Funding Framework,” Ms Cook said.
“Our proposed new Disaster Recovery Funding Framework responds to recommendations from the Independent Review of Commonwealth Disaster Funding.
“These reforms don’t change the arrangements for councils – they simply mean that the Commonwealth and the State Government will equally share the costs of recovery.”
Ms Cook said councils had raised concerns that the existing system was slow and complex.
“These reforms will make the process for claiming disaster funding simpler and faster for councils, as well as reducing the complex acquittal process,” she said.
Cr Talty said Council remained concerned that a proposed increase in the disaster activation threshold – from $240,000 to $2.7 million – could leave smaller but still expensive local events without Federal support.
“A proposed increase in the disaster activation threshold from $240,000 to $2.7 million may exclude smaller but costly events from funding eligibility, placing a significant financial burden on Council and its coastal and island communities,” she said.
Council also fears changes to eligibility rules could affect funding that reimburses local governments for extraordinary operational costs incurred during an eligible disaster.
Following Tropical Cyclone Alfred in 2025, Council recovered more than $8.6 million in unbudgeted costs associated with immediate response and recovery work.
It remains unclear how such costs would be reimbursed under the proposal.
Cr Talty said a reduction in Betterment funding could also limit Council’s ability to rebuild damaged roads, drains and other infrastructure to stronger, more resilient standards after disasters.
Ms Cook said the Federal Government would continue investing in risk reduction and resilience.
“There will be no changes to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the upcoming higher-risk weather season,” she said.
But Federal Member for Bowman Henry Pike said he had “serious concerns” about the potential impact on Bayside communities.
“The disaster recovery system works best when the Commonwealth, state and local governments work together,” he said.
“Shifting a greater share of the financial burden onto states and councils risks putting additional pressure on local ratepayers at precisely the time communities are trying to recover.”
