Mayor welcomes disaster funding decision for Maranoa communities
Published on 13 October 2026
Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Wendy Taylor has welcomed the Australian Government's decision to abandon proposed changes to disaster recovery funding, describing it as an important outcome for the Maranoa. The proposed changes would have reduced the Commonwealth's contribution from up to 75% to a fixed 50%, placing greater financial pressure on State and local governments to rebuild infrastructure damaged during natural disasters.
"When these changes were first announced, we knew this was a bad deal for the Maranoa and one that we needed to stand up against," Mayor Taylor said.
"Council maintains one of the largest road networks of any local government in Queensland, and the sheer size of our region makes us particularly vulnerable to damage from flooding and other natural disasters.
"These funding arrangements are so important for our region. They help us get roads reopened, reconnect communities and make sure families, businesses and local industries can get back to normal as quickly as possible after a natural disaster."
Maranoa Regional Council played an active role in opposing the proposed changes, including preparing a detailed submission on behalf of the Darling Downs and South West Queensland Council of Mayors. The submission represented ten councils across a vast region, stretching from Toowoomba in the east to the Queensland border in the south and Bulloo Shire in the west.
Mayor Taylor said the outcome was a reminder of why it was important for Council to speak up on decisions that could affect the region.
"A lot of the Council’s advocacy work happens behind the scenes, but this is a great example of why it's so important to stay informed, speak up and make sure our community concerns are heard.
"I'm particularly proud of the role Maranoa Regional Council played in bringing together such a strong submission and helping build a united regional voice on this important issue.
"I want to thank the Local Government Association of Queensland for its leadership, along with my fellow Mayors and councils across Queensland who worked together to achieve this outcome. I also thank the Australian Government for listening to our concerns and reconsidering its position.
"At the end of the day, these proposed changes could have had a significant impact on our region and the people who call it home. I'm really pleased with this outcome, which provides certainty that our communities will have the support they need when they need it most."