The Federal Government has identified 22 flood mitigation projects around the country that will share $50 million released from the Emergency Response Fund.

The list includes the NSW Cessnock levee, Queensland Dutton Street bridge in Ingham, ACT Mawson stormwater improvements, SA Two Wells township levee, NSW Fairfield Golf Course detention basis upgrade, NT Katherine flood mitigation levee south, Wangaratta urban flood mitigation infrastructure in Victoria and the Kingston Rivulet in Tasmania.

“Communities are going to see the benefits from this program through a reduction in the impacts of major flooding events, with additional benefits such as lower insurance costs and local job creation,” Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) welcomed the announcement of the projects, which will be funded or co-funded by the Federal Government through the National Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Program.

“These projects serve to better prepare for future flood events and enhance the resilience of Australian communities,” ICA said today on Twitter.

The funding is a result of the $4 billion Emergency Response Fund established in December 2019. Under the legislation $50 million can be drawn on each year for projects to assist communities in building resilience and preparing for future natural disasters.

A Senate standing committee inquiry into lessons from the 2019-20 bushfire season released an interim report in October that noted none of the $50 million available had been allocated at that stage.

The committee recommended that, as a matter of priority, the Government release funding for mitigation projects through the fund.