Queensland Reconstruction Authority’s resilience and recovery officers (RRO) who led this project.
A milestone in Queensland disaster resilience planning has been achieved with every local government area in the state now having an updated Local Resilience Action Plan (LRAP) in place.
Unique to Queensland, LRAPs capture and prioritise local resilience-building projects, targeting critical infrastructure, addressing access issues, reducing disaster risk, and supporting long-term recovery.
LRAPs give the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and the Queensland Government a stronger, statewide evidence base for resilience funding decisions, and provide councils with a clear pathway to seek and secure investment.
Minister for Disaster Recovery Ann Leahy said Local Resilience Action Plans are crucial tools to guide investment and project delivery.
“LRAPs allow councils and the QRA to identify projects focused on growing community resilience, reducing disaster risk, and strategic alignment with local and regional needs,” Minister Leahy said.
“For example, Richmond Shire Council’s Cambridge Crossing bridge project on Richmond-Croydon Road in north-west Queensland highlights the relevance of having an LRAP in place and up to date.
“This project was Richmond Shire’s top resilience priority, and through council’s LRAP the existing causeway was identified for upgrade to a bridge as part of the 2025-26 Betterment Program.
“We encourage councils to keep their LRAPs current, and the fact all 77 Queensland councils and the Weipa Town Authority have completed their plans for 2026 is testament to the priority they put on increasing our collective disaster resilience.”
Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn said the LRAP was an important tool in helping Council plan for a more disaster-resilient region.
“The plan helps Council identify the roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure that are most vulnerable to natural disasters,” Mayor Blackburn said.
“Working in partnership with the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, which is funding the plan, Council has been able to progress this important planning work to help strengthen the region’s resilience to future disaster events.
“By prioritising these assets and progressing planning and design work, Council can be better prepared to act when funding opportunities become available and help keep our communities connected during and after disaster events.”
The 2025-26 Betterment Program is funded under the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
For more information on QRA Local Resilience Action Plans visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/resilience/local-resilience-action-plans-lraps.
