It's essential to recognise that recovery from a disaster can vary significantly from person to person. Returning to normality can either be a quick and straightforward process or complex and take a long time.
When a disaster event happens, the Local Disaster Management Group will assemble its Local Recovery and Resilience Subgroup to:
ensure people's well-being and support resilience
rebuild essential infrastructure
help local economic recovery
rehabilitate the natural environment.
Recovering from a disaster is typically a gradual process. Safety, as well as mental and physical well-being, are primary concerns. Knowing how to access assistance can make recovery quicker and less stressful.
Weather Event – North and Far North Tropical Low
Communities within North and Far North Queensland areas affected by the tropical low, commencing 29 January 2025.
Townsville Local Disaster Management Group (TLDMG)
Update: As of 18 March 2025, the Local Recovery & Resilience Group (LRRG) stood down.
As of 4 February 2025, the Local Recovery & Resilience Group (LRRG) transitioned to Stand Up in preparation for the recovery phase of the recent weather event. On 12 February 2025, the TLDMG stood down, officially marking the transition from response to recovery.
We encourage community members to stay informed about recovery efforts by regularly checking the Disaster Dashboard and visiting our Recovery Information page.
A range of disaster planning documents to assist in the response and recovery of our community in the event of disaster can be found on the TLDMG Plans page.
Current Recovery Operations – July 2025
The Local Recovery and Resilience Group (LRRG) continues to actively engage with members of each functional subgroup—Economic, Human and Social, Infrastructure, and Environmental—to monitor recovery progress following the flood events earlier this year. We continue to hold regular meetings to assess ongoing efforts, address emerging challenges, and ensure coordinated action across sectors. In addition to tracking recovery milestones, we are strengthening preparedness ahead of the upcoming high-risk weather season.
Local Recovery Action Plan
The Event Specific Local Recovery & Resilience Action Plan (ESLRRAP) outlines the impacts of the North and Far North Tropical Low disaster, which began on January 29, 2025. Developed in close consultation with local responders and community members actively involved during the event, the plan provides a detailed assessment of the damage to infrastructure, the economy, social wellbeing, and the natural environment.
This action plan serves as a strategic framework to guide and coordinate recovery efforts across Townsville. It promotes a community-led approach, ensuring that recovery is inclusive, locally informed, and effectively managed. The ESLRRAP sets out clear recovery objectives, priority tasks, and measurable outcomes aimed at restoring the region to a new normal, one that is stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for future disasters.
Disaster Recovery Process
The disaster recovery process can be categorised into three phases:
Stage One: Immediate (Post-impact relief and emergency repairs)
Stage Two: Short/Medium term (Re-establishment, rehabilitation, and reconstruction)
Stage Three: Long Term (Restoration, rebuilding, reshaping and sustainability)
The LRRG is in Stage One of the Recovery phase – Immediate recovery (post-impact relief and emergency).
Immediate recovery aims to address and support the immediate needs of individuals, businesses and the community affected by an event. This recovery phase is challenging as it often coincides with response operations. It is the period after a disaster when initial "relief" services are offered to the affected community whilst the LRRG establishes the complete recovery framework. It is also the period when detailed recovery planning, including damage and needs analysis, is undertaken.
LRRG Subgroups
The LRRG has four groups that work together to help plan and support recovery efforts in the Townsville City Council Local Government Area (LGA). These efforts focus on four key areas: human and social needs, infrastructure, the economy, and the environment.
Human and Social
The Human Social Recovery Subgroup provides a multi-agency coordinated response to individuals and families in Townsville who have been disaster-affected. The Subgroup aims to coordinate the planning and implementation of recovery in the areas of:
Community Recovery Hubs are a place where residents who are experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support. Community Recovery workers will assist with grant applications and offer referrals to other community organisations and government agencies for further assistance.
Gives community groups, charities, sporting clubs and First Nations Councils the opportunity to rebuild after natural disasters and to prepare for the future with resilience-based projects.
Funding of up to $5,000 may be available for eligible sport and active recreation organisations located in areas declared under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Provides a comprehensive list of grant and funding opportunities available to all local businesses, community groups, not-for-profits and individuals.
Infrastructure
The Infrastructure Recovery Subgroup provides a multi-agency coordinated response to individuals and families in Townsville who have been disaster-affected. Coordinate planning and implementation of recovery in infrastructure (buildings, roads, and transport).
Interact with Council and report problems using on your iPhone or Android device. Report items such as graffiti, potholes, damaged playground equipment and much more.
Environment
The Environment Recovery Subgroup provides a multi-agency coordinated response to rapid recovery of the Natural Environment. Coordinate and recover our city's natural environments, resilience, and sustainability to rebuild and grow Townsville environmentally.
Melioidosis is a rare tropical disease caused by bacteria called Burkholderia pseudomallei. The bacteria are commonly found in soil and water in South-East Asia and northern Australia. Sometimes there have been infections in south Queensland.
Your swimming pool may not be safe for use after a disaster.
Economic
The Economic Recovery Subgroup provides a multi-agency coordinated response to businesses in Townsville that have been disaster-affected.
Coordinate, implement, monitor, and report on economic recovery measures within the Townsville City Council LGA.
Are you displaced from your business by the 2025 January flood event? Smart Precinct NQ are offering co-working spaces to help you stay productive and connected. Supporting you with access to a workspace, coffee, power, and internet—all at no cost. Just bring your laptop!
Townsville Enterprise (TEL) plays a role in leading the economic progress of the region through political advocacy, investment attraction, and tourism development. TEL has industry resources available that assist in early preparations, response and recovery.
Multiple financial arrangements, including funding programs, are available in Queensland to assist state and local governments, businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from disaster events.
In the aftermath of floods, your priority should be safety. Read some further tips from the Insurance Council of Australia for what to do when you return to your property after floods.
Provides support to chambers of commerce, small and family business associations, industry associations and local councils to bring local business owners and stakeholders together to address key business concerns, issues or opportunities in their region.
Grants of up to $25,000 are available for affected small businesses within your local region identified as one of the nineteen current local government areas in Queensland most affected by the North Queensland Monsoon Trough, Associated Tropical Cyclone Koji and Severe Weather, commencing 24 December 2025.
The Department of Primary Industries Disaster Impact Survey for primary producers is a voluntary and anonymous survey used to report the impacts of natural hazards on primary production.
Recent updates to the survey include:
the option to receive a link to update your survey submission with new information
a revised scale to help estimate impacts and anticipated recovery time
clearer guidance on reporting stock losses and impacts to agribusinesses
Primary producers are encouraged to complete the Disaster Impact Survey if their business or property has been affected by recent natural hazards. Your feedback helps build an accurate picture of on‑ground impacts and supports efforts to coordinate response and recovery activities.
If there are any questions regarding the survey, please contact the Department of Primary Industries on 13 25 23.
If you were affected by the 2025 North and Far North Queensland flood event, you may be eligible for the Stronger Homes Grant to improve your home’s resilience against future flooding.
The grant is available for eligible works up to $10,000. Examples of eligible works include raising electrical switchboards and replacing wall lining to be flood resilient.
Supporting rural and small business through all seasons, Rural Financial Counselling Service offers free financial counselling and wellness coaching to help North Queensland agribusiness and small business work through adversity and plan for the future.
If you've been affected by an event or natural disaster such as a bushfire, cyclone, drought, flood, or storm, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) can support you.
How Can I Help?
If you wish to help with the disaster recovery, there are several organisations you may contact to offer further assistance.
