Funding boost for councils to understand and manage their flood risk

Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant today announced $5.9 million in funding for New South Wales Councils to better understand and manage their flood risks.

Minister Keenan said the funding was being provided through the Floodplain Grants Scheme under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State National Partnership Agreement on National Disaster Resilience.

"It is increasingly clear that communities need to become resilient in the face of natural disasters," Mr Keenan said.

"Funding for these 28 projects will enable councils to make informed decisions on the best way to invest in flood mitigation and better manage the risk posed by floods.

"Our governments are working together to strengthen capabilities in the community, and this funding will continue to assist many local councils to develop strategies to mitigate their flood risk."

Minister Grant stressed the importance of the role councils play in understanding and managing the flood risk in their local government areas.

"Local councils are integral in responding to floods and in the subsequent recovery processes. This funding will assist councils better prepare for floods in the years to come," Mr Grant said.

"By enabling councils to better understand and manage flood risks we can help minimise some of the devastation caused by flooding."

Projects supported through this funding range from flood studies through to the construction of flood mitigation infrastructure such as detention basins.

A full list of projects can be found on the Office of Environment and Heritage website. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/coasts/Floodgrants.htm.