The Liberal and Nationals Government has provided funding to 46 local community
projects in the electorate of Indi under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants
program.
These projects across Towong, Alpine, Mansfield, Indigo, Wangaratta and Wodonga are
receiving a total of more than $25.4 million in support.
Nationals Senate Leader and Senator for Victoria, Bridget McKenzie said the Myrtleford
Savoy Soccer Club upgrade, Alpine Radio Mobile Community Broadcast Vehicle and
Porepunkah Emergency Services Helipad are among the 524 projects funded under the
program.
Senator McKenzie 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,” Senator McKenzie said.
“The grants will fund a broad range of recovery and resilience projects, from social and
community well-being 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.”
Senator McKenzie said other local projects funded included:
- $2,039,000 to upgrade Wangaratta Parklands emergency relief capacity (to
improve the relief centre space at the Wangaratta Parklands). - $1,939,000 for the redevelopment of the Wodonga Exhibition Centre (to
provide a large, accessible, multi-functional emergency relief and event
centre with supporting amenities). - $1,986,340 for the upgrade of the Ablett Pavilion Function Centre (to expand
capabilities of the multi-use community centre at RC McNamara Recreation
Reserve). - $1,600,000 for the expansion of Hotham water storage capacity (to increase
the resort’s firefighting capacity in summer when natural water flows are
low).
Details of the funded projects are available on the National Recovery and Resilience
Agency website at: https://recovery.gov.au/programs/black-summer-grants
Media contact:
Senator McKenzie: Blair Arnold | 0448 901 016