Bushfire Recovery News and Updates

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Consultation has concluded

Our bushfire recovery page was created to support those in the Orara Valley, and other communities within our local government area, as they recover from the November 2019 bushfires.


There is a range of assistance available for local households, businesses, industries and landholders.

Coffs Harbour City Council is working in collaboration with the emergency services, State and Federal government agencies, charities and others to deliver this assistance.

Service NSW Bushfire Customer Care Service

For people impacted by bushfire, the NSW Bushfire Customer Care Service will help you navigate the support and financial assistance that's available across all levels of government

Our bushfire recovery page was created to support those in the Orara Valley, and other communities within our local government area, as they recover from the November 2019 bushfires.


There is a range of assistance available for local households, businesses, industries and landholders.

Coffs Harbour City Council is working in collaboration with the emergency services, State and Federal government agencies, charities and others to deliver this assistance.

Service NSW Bushfire Customer Care Service

For people impacted by bushfire, the NSW Bushfire Customer Care Service will help you navigate the support and financial assistance that's available across all levels of government.

Service NSW provides one-on-one support for people and businesses.

They can help with:

  • Accommodation advice
  • Relevant charitable services
  • Mental health and wellbeing services
  • Support for businesses
  • Clean-up services
  • Financial assistance
  • Grants and rebates
  • Insurance and legal support
  • Replacing lost ID
  • Volunteer RFS and SES payments.

Call 13 77 88 or visit the Service NSW website to register for a callback.

Community Consultation

This page will be used periodically for community consultation to learn what ideas our community may have for recovery and to find ways to improve disaster management in future events.

As of April 2020, Council has undertaken a series of community consultations with Orara Valley
residents and the broader community to inform the development of the proposed Program of Works for recovery including:

  • Community meetings at Nana Glen Community Hall on 28 January 2020 and 11 March 2020
  • A ‘Have Your Say’ survey on this page which received 42 responses
  • Telephone and in-person interviews with Nana Glen residents and Orara Valley businesses

Feedback has also been consolidated by the Acting Community Recovery Officer and from the community-led Orara Valley Bushfire Recovery Working Group

Additionally, Council has consulted internally and with the NSW Rural Fire Service.

'Sign Up' on this page to stay informed on further opportunities for consultation as well as community recovery updates.

Consultation has concluded

Category Community recovery news and events   Show all

  • New NSW Bushfire Recovery Newsletter

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    The NSW Office of Emergency Management have released community recovery information and updated their services to respond to COVID 19 restrictions.

    Read the full newsletter for a list of service providers contact information such as mental health, clean ups, emergency temporary accommodation, customer care support line and information on accessing the following forms of financial assistance:

    • Small Business Grants
    • Business Loans
    • Free legal advice
    • Stamp duty relief
    • Commonwealth Government Disaster Recovery Payment & Allowance
    • NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants
    • Volunteer Firefighters’ Financial Support
    • Primary Industries Grants Program

    For the full newsletter please follow this link: https://haveyoursay.coffsharbour.nsw.gov.au/52967/documents/147323

  • Council announces first Bushfire Recovery Funding Allocations and Rebuilding Fee Relief

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    Initial discussions with Orara Valley residents and businesses affected by bushfires late last year have led to a preliminary list of recovery-related initiatives to be funded by the Australian Government’s $1m grant to all bushfire-hit communities.

    A public meeting in Nana Glen of residents, government agencies, businesses and representatives from Council and the Red Cross on January 28 identified a number of short and longer-term measures to help the Orara Valley community in its recovery.

    An Interim Program of Works worth $416,784 was agreed.

    These were:
    Nana Glen Community Hall – installation of solar panels and air-conditioning, $70,000.
    Community Led Recovery Event – a single whole-of-community event with activities and entertainment to bring everyone together, $50,000.
    Business and Tourism Support – Strategies to attract visitors, $68,000.
    Appointment of a 12-month Community Recovery Officer with experience and skills in disaster recovery, $150,000.
    Lower Bucca Community Preschool for the refurbishment of existing amenities and undercover outdoor area, $78,784.

    Among the more long-term projects suggested were ideas such as improvements to existing infrastructure, a community hub safe place and an emergency equipment storage facility. Some other suggestions were able to be considered as part of ongoing Council and State Government services.

    In addition, investigations are to be undertaken into the upgrading of roads and environmental restoration in the Orara Valley.

    This dedicated ‘Bushfire Recovery Program’ online resource with links to available assistance for affected residents and businesses has also been developed following the meeting in Nana Glen.

    It includes a survey asking for more recovery ideas to encourage continued engagement with the Orara Valley and wider community to work through the best use of the remaining $583,216 of the $1m funds.

    In total, the Rural Fire Service (RFS) Building Impact Assessment listed 17 homes as destroyed by the bushfires with seven damaged. Two facilities and 27 outbuildings were also destroyed and seven outbuildings were damaged, with 41 rural landholders impacted.

    To help with the rebuilding or repair of properties – when the focus starts to turn towards reconstruction – Council will also waive a number of fees and charges relating to construction for people whose property is included in the RFS Building Impact Assessment.

    First published 14 February 2020.