Queensland Reconstruction Authority – Community Assets Program

This program aims to clean up and repair community and recreational assets damaged as a direct result of the North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January – 14 February 2019 (Monsoon Trough). It is a component of the jointly funded, exceptional circumstances Category C & D package approved under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) 2018, following the Monsoon Trough.

The objectives of the program are to:
- Enable local governments and state agencies to clean-up and repair recreational assets and facilities that have been damaged by the Monsoon Trough and are considered ineligible for DRFA Category B restoration funding.
- Enable not-for-profit sport and recreational organisations to repair facilities damaged by the Monsoon Trough and resume service delivery to the community.
- Contribute to the restoration of social and community networks, accelerate community recovery and relieve distress caused by the event.

Funding under this program is approved as a capped amount to the approved project.

A total funding pool of $20 million is available.

The application process are:
- For local governments and state agencies: Expression of interest closed on 19 July 2019.
- For not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations: DHPW Sport and Recreation officers will consult directly with impacted NFPs. NFPs and sport and recreation organisations assessed as damaged by the Department of Housing and Public Works in the wake of the Monsoon Trough have already been identified for this funding.

Eligible applicants include:
- Local government and state agencies must own or operate community recreational assets that are:
a) Located in a local government area activated for DRFA for the Monsoon Trough.
b) Directly damaged by the event, and supported by post disaster evidence.
c) Ineligible for DRFA Category B funding.
- Not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations must:
a) Be an incorporated not-for-profit sport or recreation organisation with sport or recreation as a primary objective.
b) Manage sport or recreational assets that have been directly damaged by the Monsoon Trough and are located within a local government area activated for DRFA for the event.
c) Have the legal right to conduct works on the damaged asset and intend to repair and restore the asset or facility to its pre-disaster function.
d) Have limited insurance or no insurance to cover the works on the damaged asset.

Eligible works are the works required to clean up or restore the community recreational asset/facilities to its pre-disaster function and resume service delivery to the community.

Please refer to the Guidelines for the list of eligible costs and assets.

The main assessment criteria include:
- Program objectives
- Eligibility criteria

As a capped funding program, funding will be prioritised to projects based on the severity of the impact of the event on the local government area and the importance of the asset to local community participation and engagement (e.g. social and economic benefits).

The following are ineligible for funding:
- Costs associated with preparing, reporting and acquitting DRFA applications and projects
- Costs that are reimbursable under other funding sources, including insurance
- Non-specific indirect and overhead costs
- Costs associated with assessing an asset or facility when no event damage is identified
- Profit margins of applicant including (but not limited to) the applicant’s supply or use of plant, labour or materials
- Legal costs
- Purchase of land
- Feasibility and planning studies
- Temporary works, other than those required to enable completion of the approved project
- Duplication of existing initiatives
- Ongoing costs such as administration, operation and maintenance
- Costs of works completed prior to the Monsoon Trough