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
  • Bushfire Recovery Outreach Survey

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    Coffs Harbour City Council and the NSW Government are committed in supporting the community through recovery and would like to check-in and hear from residents who were affected by the fire.

    Council, in partnership with Service NSW and Resilience NSW, will shortly be sending out an email asking residents to answer a simple survey.

    This survey will help:

    • Better understand ongoing community needs.
    • Identify ways to continue in providing support.
    • Provide information about available assistance and recovery support services.


    Connecting with impacted community members helps provide relevant, ongoing support.

    As email doesn’t work for everyone, the Red Cross will also be providing phone support to assist in completing the survey.

    If you have any questions or would like further information, please email the Community Recovery Officer melinda.brooks@chcc.nsw.gov.au


  • Bushfire Recovery Action Plan 2020-2022

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    The ‘Bushfire Recovery Action Plan 2020-2022’ outlines the outcomes, activities and current status of recovery across four key areas.

    These include:

    • Community and Social Recovery
    • Business and Tourism Recovery
    • Environmental Recovery
    • Infrastructure Recovery

    Click here to view the August 2020 version of the ‘Bushfire Recovery Action Plan 2020-2022’.

    It is planned to update the recovery plan quarterly to reflect progress, any changes and status of activities.

    Click here to view the full media release.

  • Bushfire Recovery Grants Program

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    The Bushfire Recovery Grants Program is an initiative delivered by Coffs Harbour City Council funded by the Commonwealth through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement. Fire affected landholders in the Coffs Harbour local government area are now able to get support through this project to carry out environmental recovery actions on their property. Coffs Harbour Regional Landcare, Orara Valley Rivercare Groups and Envite Environment have been engaged by Council to manage these environmental recovery efforts.

    The bushfires that occurred in the Coffs Harbour local government area in 2019, had a significant impact on the local biodiversity across a number of areas. The loss of vegetation in these fire affected areas has had significant impact on the local wildlife. This project aims to support fire affected landholders to carry out environmental recovery actions on their properties, to restore native vegetation that was lost in the fires and protect the remaining remnant vegetation to provide refuge and habitat for displaced wildlife.

    If you are a landholder whose property was affected by fire and would like support with environmental recovery actions or if your property was not affected but you are directly adjacent to a burnt area and have remnant vegetation that could be a valuable wildlife refuge, please click here and fill in the Expression of Interest Form.

    Please complete the form by September 20th 2020. We will then contact you in late September 2020 regarding your Expression of Interest.

    If you have any questions please contact Samantha Hessey at Samantha.Hessey@chcc.nsw.gov.au or 0407849 439.

  • Get Back to Making Lovely

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    Free Mosaic Workshop for all residents of Nana Glen

    As the whole community was affected by the 2019-20 bushfires, all residents are welcome.

    Make a Bird, Bee or Butterfly Bath

    All material supplied, however you are welcome to use your own china and pottery pieces if you wish.

    Open to residents (13 years +).

    Nana Glen Community Hall

    Saturday 19 September Design and Tiling: 9.00am - 2.00pm

    Sunday 20 September Grout up: 10.00am - 1.00pm

    Booked out. For further information please contact leading artist Pamela Denise on mobile 0427 728 450.

    This is an initiative of the Coffs Harbour City Council Bushfire Recovery Program

  • Get Back to Making Lovely

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    Free Mosaic Workshop for all residents of Ulong and Lowanna

    As the whole community was affected by the 2019-20 bushfires, all residents are welcome.

    Make a Bird, Bee or Butterfly Bath

    All material supplied, however you are welcome to use your own china and pottery pieces if you wish.

    Open to residents (13 years +).

    Ulong Hall

    Saturday 26 September Design and Tiling: 9.00am - 2.00pm

    Sunday 27 September Grout up: 10.00am - 1.00pm

    Booked out. For further information please contact leading artist Pamela Denise on mobile 0427 728 450.

    This is an initiative of the Coffs Harbour City Council Bushfire Recovery Program

  • Small Healthy Farms Biosecurity on the North Coast - Part 1

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    Part One - Animal Health and Managing Pest Animals

    Running a small farm or bush block can involve a lot more than you may think. Preventing the introduction and spread of diseases, pests and weeds onto your land are one of the most important things a landholder can do, and there are many factors that play into your decision making.

    Come along to this FREE webinar to learn about weed management, animal health and biosecurity basics for your property including the most important weeds and pests to look out for at the moment in the North Coast region.

    When
    10 Sep 2020 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

    Region

    North Coast

    Where

    On-line event Register at: https://adobe.ly/2DHVAMk

    Contact
    Ella Rasmussen Every Bit Counts North Coast Coordinator T: 0438 173 135 E: ella.rasmussen@lls.nsw.gov.au

  • Small Healthy Farms Biosecurity on the North Coast - Part 2

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    Part Two - Managing Weeds and Farm Biosecurity

    Running a small farm or bush block can involve a lot more than you may think. Preventing the introduction and spread of diseases, pests and weeds onto your land are one of the most important things a landholder can do, and there are many factors that play into your decision making.

    Come along to this FREE webinar to learn about weed management, animal health and biosecurity basics for your property including the most important weeds and pests to look out for at the moment in the North Coast region.

    When
    17 Sep 2020 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

    Region

    North Coast

    Where

    On-line event Register at: https://adobe.ly/3amJ1Sp

    Contact
    Ella Rasmussen Every Bit Counts North Coast Coordinator T: 0438 173 135 E: ella.rasmussen@lls.nsw.gov.au

  • Toons 4 Wildlife - Fundraising Exhibiiton

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    After the devastating fires earlier in the year, Mark from TIPPETTURES rallied Australian cartoonists to create the Toons 4 Wildlife fundraising exhibition in aid of WIRES. The response from cartoonists was heartwarming and has made for a fantastic collection of over 90 works by some of Australia’s best cartoonists.

    The National Cartoon Gallery is proud to have been invited as part of this great initiative to display the entries in the gallery whilst they are auctioned online and shipped off to their new homes.

    Complementing the Toons 4 Wildlife works on the walls of the gallery is a collection of Australian Wildlife cartoons from the gallery’s impressive collection.

    Where: National Cartoon Gallery

    When: 22 August - 25 October, 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (Open Wednesday to Sunday)

    To bid online visit: charityaution/bid/Toons4wildlife

    Online Auction runs from Sat 15 August 2020 (6pm) until Sat 22 November 2020 (6pm).

  • Community Support Skills

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    Community Support Skills training develops the skills, knowledge and confidence of participants to identify and approach people they are concerned about, and provide appropriate advice to connect those people with mental health services and support. Participants are also encouraged to practice self-care and to seek help if they have any concerns about their own mental wellbeing.

    Who can attend: interested community members and groups.

    When: Wednesday 2 September

    Time: 10.00 am - 11.30 am

    Where: Nana Glen Community Hall

    RSVP: By Friday 28 August. Contact Melinda Brooks on 0417 828 591 or melinda.brooks@chcc.nsw.gov.au

    Please contact Melinda Brooks or Sam Osborne if you are interested in attending a RAMHP training session, or bringing it to your workplace or community.

    Sam Osborne on 0402 892 642 or Samantha.Osborne@health.nsw.gov.au

  • Supporting Children and Young People to Cope with Disasters

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    Whether because of drought, the Summer bushfires or COVID-19, supporting children and young people has been particularly challenging in recent times. This session will provide information, advice and tips on ways to support children and young people.

    Please join the Australian Red Cross as they host psychologist Natalie Fraser to gain a greater understanding of the effects and signs of stress and trauma in children, practical ways to maintain wellbeing and support the children and young people in your life.

    Red Cross are running the session twice, to try and reach as many parents and carers possible. The webinars are free but limited to 500 attendees so please register by clicking on your preferred webinar time:

    Wednesday 26th August 6:30pm – 7:30pm https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IXxc-NeVTAmsRW8Gf_VDaw

    Thursday 27th August 12:30pm – 1:30pm https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_k18mfmP8RT-kblOuCu3y4g