Cyclone Debbie – Turning a challenges into opportunities
Repairing the Landscape
Cyclone Debbie's impact in 2017 was severe, causing widespread damage across the region and significantly impacting local communities and ecosystems. Reef Catchments responded rapidly and proactively to provide a comprehensive assessment of regional environmental damage. The speed with which the assessment was compiled and submitted lead to the receipt of significant funding toward regional landscape remediation. The Disaster Recovery program received $6.2 million over 2 years across 33 sites. Work included streambank remediation, riparian vegetation planting and works to rebuild landscape resilience and protect valuable productive agricultural landscapes.
The project was executed swiftly, engaging local businesses to ensure timely delivery across the region. This efficiency not only led to the successful completion of the initial project but also paved the way for subsequent work and projects, establishing Reef Catchments as an efficient delivery vehicle, outstanding for a not-for-profit organisation.
