MEDIA RELEASE The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government 23 February 2009 AA047/2009

IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE FOR FLOOD & FIRE AFFECTED COUNCILS Victorian and Queensland councils devastated by recent natural disasters will receive almost $74 million in Financial Assistance Grants (FAG) three months early. This financial year's final quarterly FAG payment - original scheduled to be paid in May - will now be distributed to 39 flood and 24 fire affected councils from today, honouring a pledge given by the Prime Minister and follows my recent visit to the affected regions. All up, more than $40.6 million will be shared amongst the Victorian councils devastated by bushfires and almost $33 million will be provided to flood affected councils in north Queensland. This immediate funding injection will help alleviate the cash flow problems caused by these natural disasters and give affected councils the resources they need to start the job of repairing their infrastructure and rebuilding their communities. For example, a quarter of the houses in Murrindindi Shire Council have been burnt to the ground, potentially affecting its revenue base in the short term and capacity to recovery over the longer term. Importantly, our advance payments are untied and can be spent by councils on local priorities. The Government has also provided affected councils with the opportunity to re-prioritise their projects under the $800 million Community Infrastructure Program. I will continue to consult with affected councils to make sure my Department is doing all it can to assist them to rebuild their communities. Media Contacts Jeff Singleton ( Mr Albanese's Office ) 0410 476 890 FIRE AFFECTED VICTORIAN COUNCILS Council Accelerated payment (4th Quarter FAGs) Allocation under Community Infrastructure Program Alpine $765,193 $410,000 Baw Baw $1,694,790 $1,069,000 Cardinia $1,799,379 $1,162,000 Casey $3,630,740 $2,286,000 Corangamite $1,430,500 $538,000 Greater Bendigo $3,194,279 $1,899,000 Greater Dandenong $2,486,141 $1,400,000 Hepburn $845,489 $425,000 Horsham $1,135,416 $519,000 Indigo $916,763 $434,000 Knox $1,839,385 $1,047,000 Latrobe $2,538,367 $1,600,000 Macedon Ranges $1,353,731 $947,000 Mitchell $1,345,989 $971,000 Mount Alexander $872,069 $439,000 Murrundindi $890,147 $416,000 Nillumbik $685,460 $658,000 South Gippsland $1,685,071 $685,000 Southern Grampians $1,436,712 $575,000 Wangaratta $1,340,062 $620,000 Wellington $2,498,146 $1,300,000 West Wimmera $1,063,837 $100,000 Whittlesea $2,154,722 $1,494,000 Yarra Ranges $3,061,995 $1,742,000 TOTAL $40,664,383 $22,736,000 FLOOD AFFECTED QUEENSLAND COUNCILS Council Accelerated payment (4th Quarter FAGs) Allocation under Community Infrastructure Program Aurukun $310,286 $100,000 Barcoo $649,609 $100,000 Barcaldine $1,673,157 $100,000 Blackall-Tambo $938,711 $100,000 Boulia $619,595 $100,000 Burdekin $551,950 $321,000 Burke $542,807 $100,000 Carpentaria $867,043 $100,000 Cairns $1,394,617 $899,000 Cassowary Coast $646,580 $357,000 Central Highlands $2,149,465 $994,000 Charters Towers $1,679,014 $776,000 Cloncurry $788,499 $100,000 Cook $1,332,459 $100,000 Croydon $459,971 $100,000 Diamantina $1,004,012 $100,000 Doomadgee $160,348 $100,000 Etheridge $695,270 $100,000 Flinders $902,708 $100,000 Hope Vale $160,298 $100,000 Hinchinbrook $344,774 $237,000 Isaac $1,617,216 $798,000 Kowanyama $205,045 $100,000 Lockhart River $198,270 $100,000 Longreach $1,617,530 $100,000 Mackay $1,596,192 $1,014,000 Mapoon $148,953 $100,000 McKinlay $841,866 $100,000 Mount Isa $803,038 $404,000 Mornington $389,123 $100,000 Northern Peninsula $554,928 $100,000 Palm Island $138,374 $100,000 Pormpuraaw $209,483 $100,000 Richmond $734,010 $100,000 Tablelands $2,083,574 $1,308,000 Townsville $1,694,587 $1,057,000 Whitsunday $867,927 $743,000 Winton $1,238,071 $100,000 Yarrabah $115,251 $100,000 TOTAL $32,924,611 $11,608,000   URL: http://www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au/aa/releases/2009/February/AA047_2009.htm