Bushfire Funding Boost For Local Recovery

Eleven organisations across Victoria’s bushfire-affected areas will share in over $1.25 million in Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) grants to support projects that boost resilience, service delivery and community pride.

Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services Danny Pearson today announced the latest recipients of BRV grants for community facilities, Local Government Authorities and community service organisations.

In Victoria’s North East, the Thowgla Community Recovery Committee received $50,000 to support their fire preparedness project. The funds will be used to purchase much-needed equipment that will help the isolated community stay in contact during an emergency and equip local first responders to fight fires at the local level.

Thowgla CRC Chair David Braniff said the fires showed reliable communications and extra water supply points were critical for preparedness. “Receiving this funding is great for the community. Being told we were successful came with a feeling that we can now start moving forward with our fire preparedness plan for the community.”

In East Gippsland, GippSport will receive $400,000 for a program to encourage residents to re-engage with their community through sport. The program will support existing community sport clubs and associations in East Gippsland, to re-start activity following the bushfires and the subsequent shutdown due to the global pandemic.

Dan Poyton, GippSport’s Executive Officer said East Gippsland has experienced compounding traumas that have kept people away from sport for a long time. “This program puts extra feet on the ground to help clubs re-engage with their members and increase participation in sport.”

Other recipients include:

• $500,000 for the Upper Murray Landcare Network to engage with landholders about how to build soil carbon for healthy, productive, resilient pastures
• $67,520 for the East Gippsland Shire Council to deliver a program of entertainment for East Gippsland communities, including Live and Local concerts featuring young and emerging local musicians
• $50,000 for the Kiewa Valley Kids day care to improve the centre, its facilities and fire safety plans
• $49,981 for the Buchan Valley Golf Club to increase storage and purchase a lawnmower
• $47,246 for an upgrade of Omeo Recreation Reserve’s pavilion
• $34,500 to fit-out The Rustic Bus, a full-sized coach that provides opportunities for vulnerable and bushfire-affected families in and around Tallangatta to enjoy free holidays
• $32,000 to replace the heritage fence at the Towong Community Recreation Reserve
• $24,000 for the Wandiligong Preservation Society for the Bridge to Recovery project that will repair the Diggings Walk footbridge

Further funding is available under BRV’s Bushfire Recovery Grants for Community Facilities and Bushfire Recovery Grants for Local Government Authorities and Community Service Organisations, jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments as part of the $86 million Community Recovery Package. To see more, visit brv.vic.gov.au/financial-support.

Quotes Attributable to Acting Minister for Police and Emergency Services Danny Pearson

“We are seeing new projects, big and small, in local communities across East Gippsland and the North East – projects that support locals in times of need and encourage visitors to stop and stay.”

“We’ve delivered more than $550 million in bushfire recovery to date, and we’ll be standing side-by-side with communities on the journey ahead.”