NEW BUSHFIRE GRANTS TO HELP BARKER COMMUNITIES RECOVERY

Barker communities still recovering from the Black Summer bushfires will soon have a fresh opportunity to apply for funding, under a new grants program from the Australian Government.

Member for Barker, Tony Pasin, said the $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants program will open in mid 2021 to community organisations, businesses and councils, covering Local Government Areas that were disaster-declared as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.

“We know recovery is a long haul and needs to match the pace of communities – so this is a great chance to access funding for priorities in our local area,” Mr Pasin said.

“The new Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants will be delivered directly by the Australian Government, to help communities address priority recovery work that hasn’t yet been supported under other funding programs.

“While it will still be a month or two before grant guidelines are available, we’re getting the grants on people’s radar early so communities can start thinking about local needs and ideas.”

Mr Pasin said the grant criteria and process would be as simple and flexible as possible. While details are still to come, the new grants program is expected to fund a broad range of projects – from community wellbeing projects right through the projects that support the recovery of natural and built environments.

Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud MP said this funding is part of the Australian Government’s $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund.

The $280 million is made of unspent funds from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which had lower than expected take-up for some of the demand-driven programs, plus the previously announced $98.5 million Complementary Projects fund.

This is a clear example of the Australian Government working hard to make sure any unspent funds goes to where it is now needed the most.

“We know that recovery is a long haul and communities are still struggling more than a year after the devastating bushfire season of 2019-20,” Minister Littleproud said.

“This funding will help them continue their recovery, making sure that every dollar from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund is being used where it’s needed most.”

Guidelines and funding criteria will be available in mid-2021 with grant rounds expected to open shortly after that and funding to be delivered to successful applicants from December 2021.

Potential applicants can express their interest in receiving further information, once it is available, via the online Black Summer grants contact form at www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au/grants-program

ENDS.