Protecting Regional Infrastructure Through Fair Funding

Supporting Regional Communities, Industry and Resilience

Priority: Maintain fair and sustainable Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements that recognise the challenges faced by regional councils.

Regional roads are more than transport links. They are vital economic infrastructure that keep communities connected and industries moving.

The Charters Towers Region maintains an extensive rural road network that supports agriculture, mining, freight movements, emergency services, school transport and access to essential services across a vast geographic area.

As severe weather events become more frequent and infrastructure costs continue to rise, sustainable funding arrangements are critical to maintaining these assets and ensuring regional Queensland remains productive, connected and resilient.

Council is advocating for disaster recovery funding arrangements that recognise the scale of infrastructure responsibilities carried by regional councils and provide fair, practical and sustainable support following natural disasters.

A Vast Rural Road Network

Council maintains approximately 4,070 kilometres of rural roads, 3,843 kilometres unsealed and 227 kilometres sealed. These roads carry freight, livestock, mining traffic, school runs and emergency services across a vast geographic area, a scale of responsibility most metropolitan councils never face.

Infrastructure Supports a Strong Regional Economy

Together, Agriculture and mining contribute around $406 million a year to the regional economy, two of its biggest drivers. Both depend on reliable roads, efficient freight corridors, market access and a mobile workforce. Resilient infrastructure isn't optional in regional Queensland; it's what keeps these industries productive, connected and investable.

The Growing Impact of Natural Disasters

The 2026 wet season made the stakes clear. Heavy, torrential rainfall caused significant damage across Council's road network, closing roads and disrupting communities, businesses and primary producers. Multiple cattle sales were cancelled outright because stock simply couldn't move on damaged, inaccessible roads.

The estimated regional economic impact of those cancelled sales: $38.9 million.

The Challenge: Proposed Changes to Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements

Proposed changes to the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) would shift more of this financial burden onto councils, including:

  • Higher cost-sharing requirements.
  • Reduced access to betterment funding.
  • Stricter eligibility thresholds.
  • Reduced Commonwealth contributions.
  • Greater financial responsibility for road and bridge repairs.

For a council managing more than 4,000 kilometres of rural roads, this threatens the long-term sustainability of both infrastructure maintenance and disaster recovery.

The Solution

Council is advocating for a revised DRFA model that delivers fair, sustainable funding for regional councils, including:

  • Maintaining appropriate Commonwealth contributions.
  • Reinstating adequate betterment funding.
  • Preserving efficient, practical delivery models.
  • Adjusting funding thresholds to reflect regional realities.
  • Keeping cost-sharing arrangements fair and achievable.
  • Ensuring councils can readily access disaster recovery support.
The Benefits of Fair Funding

A sustainable DRFA model would deliver:

  • Greater financial certainty for councils.
  • Faster recovery after disasters.
  • More resilient roads and bridges.
  • Lower long-term infrastructure costs.
  • Safer transport networks.
  • Stronger support for agriculture, mining and freight.
  • Better community connectivity.
  • Greater regional resilience and preparedness.
  • Less economic disruption during disasters.
  • Greater confidence for residents and businesses.

Restoring adequate betterment funding, in particular, would let damaged assets be rebuilt to a higher standard, cutting the cost and impact of the next disaster.

Advocacy Priority

Fair disaster recovery funding is essential to protecting regional economies and communities.

With responsibility for more than 4,070 kilometres of roads, and industries contributing more than $600 million annually to the local economy, Charters Towers requires funding arrangements that reflect regional realities. Sustainable Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements will support faster recovery, improved resilience, stronger freight networks and better long-term outcomes for regional Queensland communities, businesses and industries.

More Information

CTRC Media Release - Call for fair disaster recovery funding

LGAQ - Dump this disaster of a deal

ALGA - Councils reject moves to decrease disaster recovery funding

 

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