The Australian Government has provided funding to local community projects in Barker under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program, with projects in Kingston District Council receiving more than $400,000 in support.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the Kingston District Council’s Keilira Community Precinct Development Project is among the many projects funded under the program.

Mr Pasin said the overall program funding was boosted by $110 million to $390 million to further support communities around Australia to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.

“As part of the now $2.2 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.”

“The Department received a huge number of highly competitive applications.”

“We understand that recovery from bushfires takes time, and we will continue to support bushfire impacted communities through their recovery as build resilience for the future.” Mr Pasin said.

Mr Pasin said the Kingston District Council has received grants for three significant projects.

Applicant Project Title Project Description Approved grant amount
Kingston District Council Community Wellbeing and Participation Program In the wake of the 2019/20 Keilira Bushfire, Kingston District Council commenced the innovative Community Wellbeing and Participation Initiative to address farmer recovery, support mental health, wellbeing and facilitate resilience building programs to Keilira landowners and surrounding communities. Importantly, the program contributes to the economic rebound of the fire impacted community through a range of activities, specifically around arts & culture, mental health, community connection and a contribution to large-scale projects that add employment opportunities across the region. $100,000
Kingston District Council Community Communication and Connection Project This project involves purchase of an interactive touchscreen, digital communication kiosk and installation of mobile phone boosters in select CFS and Council vehicles.
The digital kiosk will allow high impact communication with the community. It will provide emergency and weather warnings, public safety messages, promote community activities, wellbeing events and tourist information.
Providing mobile phone boosters will greatly enhance the ability for the CFS trucks and Council support vehicles to share vital information, communicate with others outside firegrounds and ensure personnel putting their lives at risk can be reached, monitored and supported as they protect the community in areas without reliable mobile phone coverage.
$50,000
Kingston District Council Keilira Community Precinct Development Project This collaborative development will support the recovery of the fire affected Keilira community and upgrade existing facilities for the local CFS by creating a cohesive and welcoming precinct to meet and encourage social connections in a rural location. The precinct will include a meeting space, clubhouse, toilet facilities, improvements to sporting facilities, site beautification and safety improvements.
The development will provide a hub for the Keilira and CFS community and provide opportunities to engage, collaborate and connect with other rural farming communities and host recovery and resilience activities.
$265,000

“I am very pleased to deliver these grants to the Kingston District Council.” 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