Additional Bushfire Recovery Projects Approved by Council

A further program of bushfire recovery works worth $983,216 was approved by Councillors at the Council Meeting on March 26, 2020.

The funds are part of the Australian and State Government’s $1.4m allocation.

The latest list of works followed a second Bushfire Recovery Community Meeting and workshop in Nana Glen on March 11.

The workshop considered responses to an online survey, phone and in-person interviews with Nana Glen residents and Orara Valley businesses. It also took into consideration general feedback given directly to the Acting Community Recovery Officer, as well as ongoing consultation with the community-led Orara Valley Bushfire Recovery Working Group.

The new recovery works include:

• Ten hardstand sites for emergency water access by Rural Fire Service (RFS) vehicles across the local government area $250,000.
• Turnaround Bays for emergency vehicles $70,000.
• Upgrade of Neighbourhood Safer Places $200,000.
• Environmental Recovery Program $213,216

Roads and bridges works

Concerns over the condition of McPhersons Bridge were also raised as local RFS personnel avoided it during the bushfires because there were doubts that it could take a fully-laden cat tanker. McPhersons Bridge is Crown Land property so Council has proposed that it will approach Crown Lands to discuss remediation.

A total of $250,000 of the funding has been identified for infrastructure improvements in the program, but this can be reallocated as an additional $100,000 for Neighbourhood Safer Places and $150,000 to the Environmental Recovery Program if not needed.

Road upgrades in the Orara Valley, including Ellems Quarry Road and McPhersons Road were also highlighted during the community consultations.

Rather than use funding designated for bushfire recovery for the road works, Council is able to apply for some funding from the Federal Government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), which covers damage to public infrastructure during disasters. Council will provide the balance from its own road budgets.

Community event funding

In addition, funding for a future program of community events and activities that promote local business and industry recovery, as well as community resilience and connection, is to come from a $100,000 NSW Government grant, rather than the Australian Government’s $1.3m funding package.