A massive $448.5 million injection into bushfire recovery has been made today by the Morrison-McCormack Government to create local economic recovery plans collaboratively and fund their projects.
Federal Member for Cowper Pat Conaghan welcomed the additional funding and coordination as there is still a long road ahead to support Cowper communities impacted by the Spring and Summer bushfires.
“During the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season, the economic impact to the agriculture, tourism and forestry industries in Cowper was more than $56 million,” he said.
“This program is an opportunity for the community to share ideas and projects with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency through the state government who will work with local governments to roll-out support as quickly as possible. It recognises the importance of our local groups and residents having a voice in the recovery process.
“I thank Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud for the funding and the National Bushfire Recovery Agency for coordinating these plans.”
The National Bushfire Recovery Agency was established on 9 January and funded with an initial $2 billion to ensure the families, farmers and business owners hit by the devastating Spring and Summer bushfires would get the support they needed to recover.
This agency has supported the State and Territory Governments and has coordinated the national response to the bushfires, under the leadership of Andrew Colvin APM AOM.
The $448.5 million Regional Bushfire Recovery and Development Program announced today is accompanied by further investment in:
• Forestry: $15 million to assist the forestry industry with the increased costs of transporting burned salvaged logs over longer distances to surviving timber mills or storage sites in bushfire affected areas in Victoria and New South Wales.
• Community wellbeing: $13.5 million for community wellbeing and participation, backing Primary Health Networks with additional funding to provide critical, localised support for bushfire affected individuals to ensure their emotional and mental wellbeing.
• Native wildlife and habitat restoration: $149.7 million for bushfire recovery related to species and landscapes such as habitat regeneration, waterway and catchment restoration including erosion control, weed and pest management.
• Telecommunications: $27.1 million for strengthening telecommunications capabilities before the next bushfire season including the deployment of approximately 2000 satellite phones to rural fire depots and evacuation centres.
For more information visit the National Bushfire Recovery Agency website.
