Natural Disaster Program

More than 1400 projects are underway to restore roads across Queensland damaged by floods and bushfires. Communities are being reconnected and regional economic recovery is being supported following damage to the state-controlled road network in 2020–26.

Key features

  • Restoring access for communities and businesses. 
  • Restoring damaged roads and road surfaces.
  • Repairing damaged structures, including bridges and culverts.
  • Repairing damaged slopes and batters along roads.
  • Clearing silt and debris.

Benefits

  • Restores damaged infrastructure
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth

About the program

  • The Natural Disaster Program reconnects Queenslanders by repairing parts of the state-controlled road network damaged by natural disasters.
  • Damaged sites are restored to their pre-disaster level of service.
  • In the first 3 months after disaster events, emergency works such as debris clearing and temporary road repairs are undertaken. This enables roads to be used safely while geotechnical and environmental investigations, surveys and detailed design for reconstruction works are completed, where required.
  • Most reconstruction works are completed within 2 financial years after the financial year in which the disaster event occurred.
  • Where possible, the program also supports the resilience of state roads to future disasters.

Current status

  • Damage assessments and repairs are underway after monsoonal rainfall and tropical cyclones Koji and Narelle impacted most of Queensland from late December 2025 to April 2026.
  • Detailed design and repairs are underway following significant disaster events in 2024–25, including flooding in northern and western Queensland and Tropical Cyclone Alfred in South East Queensland.
  • Substantial progress has been made on road repairs after significant disaster events in 2023–24, including Tropical Cyclone Jasper in far north Queensland, severe storms across southern Queensland and flooding associated with Tropical Cyclone Kirrily in western Queensland.
  • Substantial progress has been made on reconstruction works on the Cunningham Highway where bushfires caused significant slope damage at Cunninghams Gap in late 2019.
Funding

The recovery works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Traffic info

These works may change traffic conditions that impact your travel. Visit QLDTraffic to plan your journey.

12 Projects in Natural Disaster Program

Bulloo Developmental Road (Cunnamulla – Thargomindah), Paroo River bridge replacement

The Queensland Government is committed to building back better and ensuring the state-controlled road network is more resilient to future disasters, safeguarding communities and supporting economic recovery.

  • South West District
  • Detailed design
No image supplied

Captain Cook Highway Cairns – Mossman 2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction

The Queensland Government has made significant progress on the reconstruction works along the Captain Cook Highway. As part of the comprehensive disaster recovery program, these works aim to restore vital infrastructure and prioritise the safety of all road users.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Cunningham Highway (Ipswich – Warwick), 2020 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

The Queensland Government is committed to restoring the damaged section of the Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap. This 2km stretch, leading up to the Allan Cunningham monument, suffered significant road damage during the bushfires in 2019.

  • South Coast District
  • Construction
Aerial image of Cunningham Highway at Cunninghams Gap

Far North Queensland disaster recovery works

The Queensland Government has made significant progress in repairing roads damaged by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 and the North and Far North Tropical Low in February 2025.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
Aerial image of Kuranda Range Road, showing large green trees and a curved road which has temporary stabilisation repairs following a major landslip on the side of the road.

Flood resilience works

The Queensland Government, is improving the resilience of the state-controlled road network at priority sites impacted by recent severe weather events.

  • Construction
Concreate slab on the side of a road with a drainage to help prevent flooding.

Gillies Range Road (Tablelands Regional Council) 2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

Critical slope reconstruction work is currently underway on 5 upslope and downslope slip sites, with repairs to more sites to commence during 2026.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
Aerial view of the work being carried out on site 3 on the Gillies Range Road.

Gold Coast-Springbrook Road, Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

Gold Coast—Springbrook Road sustained a significant number of landslips, rock falls and tree falls during the South Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall events in December 2023 and January 2024.

  • South Coast District
  • Construction
Aerial view of Gold Coast-Springbrook Road major slip site

Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range Road) cyclone reconstruction works

Significant progress has been made on restoring the Kennedy Highway (Kuranda Range Road) to its pre-event function following Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023 and the North and Far North Tropical Low in February 2025.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Mossman – Daintree Road, 2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

Reconstruction works are underway on a section of Mossman – Daintree Road damaged during ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.

Disaster recovery is a long-term process and involves an extensive program of works and complex solutions.

A variety of stabilising techniques will be used, including:

  • reinforcing the slopes
  • soil anchoring systems
  • vertical retention piling
  • building rock retaining walls.

These repairs will ensure the road is returned to its fully operational pre-cyclone function.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Mossman – Mount Molloy Road, 2024 Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements reconstruction works

Reconstruction works on Mossman – Mount Molloy Road are underway to repair multiple landslips from Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.

  • Far North District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Mount Spec Road reconstruction works

The Queensland Government is repairing Mount Spec Road after substantial structural damage following record rainfall in early 2025. This includes more than 60 landslips, with 6 major and 2 high-risk sites.

  • Northern District
  • Construction
No image supplied

Palmerston Highway cyclone reconstruction works

Tropical Cyclone Jasper reconstruction works have been completed on the Palmerston Highway (Millaa Millaa-Innisfail).

  • Far North District
  • Completed
No image supplied

Last updated: 8 July 2026