Four North East projects are included in five bushfire recovery projects today given the green light Victoria, through more than $1.5 million in Local Economic Recovery funding from the Australian and Victorian governments.
Nationals Senate Leader and Wodonga-based Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said the support announced today by Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, will help address some of the impacts people are facing following the devastating 2019-20 fires.
“The Upper Murray was ravaged by this summer’s bushfires and this investment to get started on upgrades to community facilities such as Cudgewa tennis facility and community centre, to help us stay socially connected, active and engaged with one another as we emerge stronger from these difficult times,” Senator McKenzie said.
“This work is locally identified and community led, and I’m proud to be part of The Nationals in a Government that’s backing the things that matter here in the North East and Upper Murray. I can’t wait to see these projects get going.”
North East projects include:
- Reestablishing an Avenue of Honour in Tintaldra to commemorate sacrifice and service in World War I and resilience during the fires
- Building a pedestrian bridge over the east branch of the Ovens River upstream of Harrietville
- Creating three large murals at Mount Beauty to create a new point of interest for tourists and locals, and
- Restoring and expanding the Cudgewa Tennis Facility, which can also service as a meeting space for broader community activities
Understanding that the recovery needs of each community are different, the Australian and Victorian governments are working alongside communities to ensure that assistance matches the pace and needs of individual communities.
Minister Littleproud said COVID-19 has made bushfire recovery that much harder, but bushfire affected communities have not been forgotten.
“It’s not an easy road, but these bushfire recovery projects are a sign that things are moving forward. Governments have set aside $68.6 million in bushfire funding for Local Economic Recovery projects in Victoria, to help communities get back on their feet, so this announcement will be the first of many,” Minister Littleproud said.
The Local Economic Recovery Program is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The Australian Government is investing $448.5 million nationally in local economic recovery, with additional co-funding contributions from state governments.
This is just one of the initiatives supported by the Australian Government’s National Bushfire Recovery Fund, which is worth more than $2 billion. To date, more than $1.8 billion in Australian Government support has been provided to help bushfire affected communities, including $1.2 billion spent so far from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund.
Information on successful local economic recovery projects are available on the National Bushfire Recovery Agency website at www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au/local-recovery-projects
More information about the Local Economic Recovery program in Victoria, including how to register your expressions of interest for Local Economic Recovery Program funding, is available at https://www.vic.gov.au/local-economic-recovery-program-bushfire-affected-communities