Wednesday, 15 April 2009

Communities devastated by Victoria’s bushfires will be supported to rebuild community life, capture bushfire history and keep their communities informed with $4.5 million in Commonwealth and Victorian Government funding.

In Marysville today, the Victorian Premier John Brumby and Commonwealth Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten said a further $4.5 million from the Commonwealth and State governments Community Recovery Fund would be set aside to:

- Protect community history by recording bushfire history through the collection and collation of photographs, artworks, artefacts and other relevant historical memorabilia;
- Create recreation and entertainment activities for young people living in bushfire-affected communities;
- Produce community information, including newsletters, newspapers and publications that keep the community informed about recovery and rebuilding efforts;
- Regenerate community spaces to re-establish community meeting and gathering places;
- Support proposals from bushfire-affected communities for community recovery initiatives;
- Community Development Officers to work with individual local councils on community recovery plans.

Mr Brumby said recording the history of the 2009 bushfires was an important part of the recovery process and also vital to ensuring this period in the state’s history was captured and remembered.

“The Black Saturday bushfires were the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history and we all have a responsibility to ensure that future generations can learn more about what their towns used to be like and to see how they recovered and rebuilt,” Mr Brumby said.

“Sadly, the fires destroyed a lot of memorabilia and this funding will support communities to again begin gathering historical items that can help our survivors tell their stories and recreate the histories of our towns and communities.

“It will also encourage the development of proposals from individual communities to support initiatives they want in their towns.”

Mr Shorten said the $4.5 million funding built on assistance available to support community development in Victoria’s bushfire areas from the $10 million Community Recovery Fund.

“We are determined to rebuild these communities. That’s why we are also providing supporting young people to enjoy themselves and keep communities informed is an important part of the recovery process,” Mr Shorten said.

“The assistance announced today will further help to rebuild community strength and support communities as they move forward.”

The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments jointly established the Community Recovery Fund in February for communities affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires, each committing $5 million.

The Community Recovery Fund has already allocated $3 million for a Community Sports Recovery Fund and $2.5 million for the creation of memorials in bushfire-affected communities.

For more information about funding available through the Community Recovery Fund please visit grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au.