Protecting Our Communities Program
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About
The Protecting Our Communities (Disaster Resilience) Program (POCP) was developed following the Australian Government’s election commitment to provide funding to communities across Australia to increase their disaster resilience and preparedness for future disasters as part of the 2022-23 Budget – announced in October 2022.
The purpose of this program is to deliver important disaster resilience projects for communities that represent value for money and have been identified by communities to improve their disaster resilience and preparedness for further disasters at the local level.
The POCP objective is to deliver projects that aim to increase the disaster resilience and preparedness of Australian Communities for future disaster events by:
- increasing disaster resilience through building or upgrading telecommunications infrastructure, road infrastructure, evacuation centres, cyclone shelters and emergency management precincts;
- improving community preparedness through volunteer training and developing disaster management plans; and
- enhancing the ability to respond to disasters
This funding is only available to the applicants detailed below that have been identified by the Australian Government and invited by QRA to apply.
Funding acknowledgement
The Protecting Our Communities (Disaster Resilience) Program (POCP) is funded by the Australian Government.
Administering agency
In Queensland the POCP is administered Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) on behalf of the Australian Government.
Status and next steps
- All Implementation plans for each of the projects have been received and approved.
- Applicants have been advised of the successful outcome of their projects.
- QRA will now process the submission through MARS and provide applicants with project funding agreements for signing. It is expected that project funding agreements will be finalised August 2024 with projects commencing shortly after.
- All projects are to be completed by 30 June 2026.
Successful projects
List of all successful POCP projects
| Organisation | Project Name | Project Description | Commonwealth funding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Show Society | Ipswich Showgrounds Evacuation Centre Upgrades | Upgrade of the Ipswich Showgrounds to improve amenities that can be utilised as an emergency relief centre during disasters | $1,500,000 |
| Gladstone Regional Council | Deepwater National Park Fire Trail | Rebuild and upgrade Deepwater fire trails to allow for better access for the Queensland Rural Fire Service to better prepare for bushfires and keep the community safe during a bushfire | $2,000,000 |
| Rockhampton Regional Council | Gracemere Integrated Emergency Communications System | Upgrade satellite communication UHF/VHF radio and fix known blackspots in the areas around Mount Morgan and Gracemere to increase communication during disasters | $500,000 |
| Richmond Shire Council | Coalbrook Road culvert crossing replacement | Replacing the culvert crossing at Coalbrook Road to increase flood resilience | $301,620 |
| Cairns Regional Council | FNQ Coastal Erosion Works | Undertake coastal erosion works on the northern beaches of Cairns to protect the coast against future erosion | $750,000 |
| Cook Shire Council | FNQ pedestrian access bridge | Upgrade of the pedestrian access bridge that crosses the southern side of the Endeavour River near Cooktown to allow direct access to Cooktown for residents during the wet season | $250,000 |
| Total funding | $5,301,620 | ||
The list of all successful projects across the nation is published on the National Emergency Management Australia (NEMA) website at:
Guidelines
Contact
For queries, please contact your QRA Regional Liaison Officer or email info@qra.qld.gov.au
Last updated: 25 September 2024. QRA Reference: QRATF/24/2462.