Livingstone backs call to protect disaster recovery funding
Published on 29 July 2026
Livingstone Shire Council is supporting the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) and Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) in opposing proposed changes to the Commonwealth's Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), warning the reforms would shift more disaster recovery costs onto Queensland communities.
Mayor Adam Belot said disaster-prone councils like Livingstone relied on a fair funding model to recover and rebuild after major events.
"These proposed changes don't reduce the cost of disasters, they simply transfer more of that cost to the State and local communities," Mayor Belot said.
"Queensland experiences more natural disasters than any other state, and councils shouldn't be expected to shoulder an even greater financial burden."
LGAQ modelling shows that if the proposed funding model had applied since 2018, Livingstone Shire would have received around $678,000 less in Commonwealth disaster recovery assistance across four disaster activations, a reduction of approximately 22 percent.
The proposed changes come as Council continues recovery from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji earlier this year, having already incurred around $12 million in eligible restoration costs.
Mayor Belot said the reforms would also reduce investment in disaster resilience by limiting Betterment funding.
"Building back better reduces future damage, strengthens resilience and saves taxpayers money over the long term," he said.
"Reducing Betterment funding risks rebuilding the same infrastructure after every disaster instead of investing in stronger, more resilient assets."
Since 2013, Livingstone Shire Council has completed 15 Betterment projects supported by approximately $3.7 million in funding. Under the proposed arrangements, those projects would have attracted an estimated $1.47 million less in funding.
The advocacy comes as Council recently endorsed its updated Local Resilience Action Plan (LRAP), identifying priority projects to strengthen disaster resilience, reduce risk and improve recovery across the region.
Mayor Belot said the plan demonstrated Council's commitment to planning ahead.
"This plan gives Council a clear roadmap of priority resilience projects so we're ready to pursue funding opportunities as they become available, helping us better protect our communities from future disaster events," he said.
"Building resilience is an ongoing process. By identifying our priorities now, we're putting Livingstone in the strongest possible position to reduce risk and support our communities before, during and after disasters."
Member for Keppel Nigel Hutton said the proposed changes to the funding arrangements ignore the needs of Queenslanders.
“This means that our state and councils will shoulder an even heavier financial burden at an unfair cost to residents,” Mr Hutton said.
“We are the most decentralised state and risking recovery by not investing in infrastructure betterment is too high a price for a false sense of uniformity. The needs of our states are different and should be recognised as such.
“I call on the Federal Government to work with Councils and the Crisafulli Government to ensure we have fit for purpose disaster arrangements to meet the needs of Queenslanders.”
Mayor Belot said Council would continue advocating alongside the LGAQ for a disaster funding model that reflects Queensland's unique disaster risk.
"We're calling on the Australian Government to retain a fair and equitable funding model that supports recovery, rewards resilience and recognises the realities facing regional Queensland communities.
“Importantly, we’re encouraging every resident to have their say because every voice and every submission will strengthen our case.
“From Stanage Bay to Byfield and communities right across Livingstone Shire, this is an opportunity to help ensure our region receives the disaster recovery funding it needs to prepare for, respond to and recover from future natural disasters.”