Councils slam disaster cost shift

Published on 27 November 2025

Queensland councils have slammed Federal Government suggestions they should either pay millions in ratepayer dollars to access critical disaster information or roll the dice on the Bureau of Meteorology’s bungled new website to try and keep their communities safe.

The Bureau of Meteorology has told councils they will be switching off the free Enviromon flood and weather system that many councils rely on to keep their communities safe and informed during disasters.

Councils have warned the replacement system will cost councils and their ratepayers anywhere between $10,000 and $600,000 a year depending on where they live in Queensland.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive officer Alison Smith described it as a "BOM cost shift" that councils in the country's most disaster-prone state should not have to pay.

“Councils are being told to either pay up for real time information, or rely on updates at 15 minute intervals that will be provided for free," Ms Smith said.

“We’ve had councils warning that they are in the impossible position of either using ratepayers’ money to buy something that taxpayers have already funded or step back their alerts system.

“Every second counts in an emergency.

“We have a locally-led disaster management framework in Queensland that puts councils at the centre of their community's response. So, saying they will have to start paying to get the information to keep their community safe is just not on.

“When the weather website fiasco has Queenslanders relying on a ‘look out the window’ weather report, telephone trees for regional flood warnings and ‘fingers crossed’ bushfire fighting, the Federal Government should be demanding that the BoM guarantees accurate, reliable, dedicated and free disaster information for councils and the communities that rely on them.”

For the Federal Government to expect councils should just accept a major cost shift from the level of government that takes in the lion’s share of taxation revenue while at the same time a Parliamentary Inquiry is running into the dire financial situation of the local government sector is tone deaf and unacceptable.

In Queensland, councils help lead disaster preparations, response and recovery and rely on dedicated weather and disaster information to protect their communities.

In North Queensland, Charters Towers Mayor Liz Schmidt said "real time information is the difference between life and death outcomes".

"A fifteen-minute wait for information could have fatal consequences in my community," Mayor Schmidt said.

"During big events in this part of Queensland, the water volume of Sydney Harbour goes across the Burdekin Falls Dam every day.

"We have the largest river output into the ocean of any community in Australia, and with that volume of water it's essential to have real time data to my council to inform our decisions during a disaster event.

"To now hear that many councils will have to pay for access to real time data, when they've traditionally had this available for free, is a disgrace.

"We've been told all along that the BOM's resources are stretched and they can't afford to put staff into Cairns, yet they've been able to fund a $96 million website.

"Taxpayers are already paying for the Bureau of Meteorology, so this is now another cost shift at a time when our communities need their councils the most."

Rockhampton Regional Council Mayor Tony Williams said:

“Councils are at the forefront of responding to any natural disaster that threatens their communities.

“Without a dedicated, reliable weather information service we are trying to respond with one arm tied behind our backs.

“It is not fair that ratepayers should have to find the funds for this critical information when they, as taxpayers, have already paid for the Bureau of Meteorology.”

Longreach Regional Council Mayor Tony Rayner said:

“Our community relied on the flood information provided direct to council from the BoM to help us prepare for the weather event that hit our region earlier this year.

“The community relied on their council and we relied on being able to access the most reliable information available.

“Councils like ours shouldn’t have to choose between community safety and community infrastructure when every taxpayer has already paid to fund the Bureau of Meteorology.”

For more information, please contact:
Dan Knowles, Media Advisor