MID MURRAY COUNCIL COMMUNITY PROJECT BACKED BY NATIONAL BUSHFIRE RECOVERY FUND

The Australian Government has provided funding to local community projects in Barker under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the Mid-Murray Council received $167,250 to improve fire fighting infrastructure and water access points across the Council area.

Mr Pasin said during the 2019-20 bushfire event it was found there were limited water access points and supply.

“This project will provide a fire tank within the scar area, a supplementary water source access point at a separate location, and a community facility upgrade which will be staged to incorporate a toilet amenity refurbishment.”

“The project will provide an essential water source provision for future firefighting requirements and raise community resilience and engagement through the provision of essential infrastructure for the ongoing development and sustainability of the immediate region.” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said the overall program funding was boosted to $390 million to further support communities around Australia to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.

“As part of the $2.1 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program is backing projects which the affected communities have said will best support their ongoing recovery,” Mr Pasin said.

“The grants will fund a broad range of recovery and resilience projects, from social and community wellbeing right through to projects that support local jobs, small businesses and infrastructure.

“It was important that we funded projects based on need and merit and which offered a lasting and tangible impact, tailored to local needs and conditions. The quality of the projects funded shows that our ‘locally led’ approach works.

“We understand that recovery from bushfires takes time, and we will continue to support impacted communities through their recovery from the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020.” Mr Pasin said.

Details of the funded projects are available on the National Recovery and Resilience Agency website at: https://recovery.gov.au/programs/black-summer-grants

ENDS.