The Australian Government has provided funding to local community projects across Livingstone Shire Council under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program, with projects in the shire receiving a total of over $4.5 million in support.
Federal Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry said new emergency services facilities and upgraded community amenities are among the 524 projects funded under the program.
Ms Landry 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,” Ms Landry 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.”
Livingstone Shire Council Mayor Andy Ireland, Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, said the funding will significantly boost the region’s natural disaster preparation and response.
“I’d like to thank the Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry and the Australian Government for providing more than $4.5 million in funding to Livingstone Shire, which will help increase the community’s preparedness for disaster,” Mayor Ireland said.
“Council took the priority projects to the Local Disaster Management Group for discussion before submitting the application and all agencies agreed they played a key role in improving our bushfire and disaster preparedness across the entire shire.
“The projects include the employment of a bushfire mitigation officer and a disaster recovery economic development officer as well as fleet equipment and upgrades to the Local Disaster Co-ordination Centre.
“The funding will also go towards repairing the carpark at the Barmaryee Multi-Sports Precinct which was damaged during the November 2019 bushfires, improvements to Rural Fire Brigade accesses, and site improvements at The Station Community Recovery Hub.
“Livingstone Shire has experienced its fair share of disasters over recent years which demonstrates how vital it is that our community is prepared for such events and these projects will go a long way in boosting our resilience and capabilities to respond.”
Seven projects include:
- Barmaryee Restoration and Capability Enhancements $453,812
- Bushfire Recovery and Resilience Officer $362,976
- Bushfire suppression and Mitigation Tools $419,868
- Economic Development Officer – Disaster Recovery $362,000
- Livingstone Local Disaster Co-ordination Centre Technology Implementation $320,000
- Rural Fire Brigade Access Improvements $114, 000
- The Station Community Recovery Hub $2,522,000
