Friday, 13 February 2009
Community organisations in bushfire-affected areas will share in $500,000 from the Brumby Government to help during the recovery and rebuilding process.
Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said Community Building Initiative projects (CBI) and other locally based organisations in fire-affected areas would be eligible for grants of up to $30,000 to employ bushfire community recovery officers.
“The recovery officers will help the rebuilding effort by assessing what activities will be needed to help fire-affected communities back on their feet,” Mr Batchelor said.
“Many of the affected areas already have a Community Building Initiative project in place. These are designed to give local people the tools and assistance they need to map out an action plan to deliver projects the communities themselves believe will make a difference to their towns.
“This new funding will provide these projects with additional resources to support the redevelopment of these communities.”
The affected CBI projects include East Gippsland, Garfield/Bunyip, Latrobe, Alpine, Kinglake, Whittlesea, Upper Yarra and Horsham.
Mr Batchelor today met with facilitators from CBI projects in Traralgon and Boolarra to discuss how the fires have affected local communities.
“The impact on the affected communities has been extensive. People are suffering stress and anxiety associated with the loss of lives, evacuation, direct fire threats and loss of farming and residential property,” Mr Batchelor said.
“The recovery process for communities will take time and the effects can be significant and long-lasting, but history shows that communities actively involved in the recovery process recover quicker and become stronger.”
Mr Batchelor said the funding would assist CBI projects and other community organisations to work with local government and community recovery committees to develop solutions to help aide recovery.
“It’s not only houses, schools and community buildings that will need to be reconstructed, but also people’s connections and social networks,” he said.
“Each community is different and will have its own needs, challenges and opportunities so this initiative will put dedicated people on the ground to help bring communities together.
“Recovery officers will assist people accessing services and will provide a way for residents to have a voice and assist in the development of local recovery plans.”
For more information on the grants visit www.grants.dpcd.vic.gov.au
