Australian Government Regional Bushfire Recovery Measures

Regional Bushfire Recovery and Development Program

Local economic recovery plans will help towns and regions hit by bushfires get back on their feet as part of a new $650 million package of support from the Australian Government.

As part of the Regional Bushfire Recovery and Development Program, bushfire affected communities will share in $448.5 million to support the delivery of local recovery plans with priority given to the most severely impacted regions, drawing on local voices and local governments in close partnership and as part of cost-sharing arrangements with states.

The new support also includes:

• Forestry Transport Assistance ($15 million): To assist the forestry industry with the increased costs of transporting burned salvaged logs over longer distances to surviving timber mills or storage sites in bushfire affected areas in Victoria and New South Wales.
• Community Wellbeing and Participation ($13.5 million) –backing Primary Health Networks with additional funding to provide critical, localised emotional and mental health support for bushfire affected individuals.
• Bushfire Recovery for Species and Landscapes ($149.7 million) – supporting efforts that go beyond the immediate devastation on species and natural assets through habitat regeneration, waterway and catchment restoration including erosion control, weed and pest management.
• Telecommunications Emergency Resilience ($27.1 million as well as $10 million from the mobile blackspots program) – strengthening telecommunications capabilities prior to future natural disasters, including the deployment of approximately 2,000 satellite dishes to provide a link if other connections are damaged, plus batteries and solar panels, to rural fire depots and evacuation centres.

To access support and to find further details, visit the National Bushfire Recovery Agency website at www.bushfirerecovery.gov.au

Links to full Media Release/Press Conference:

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/boost-bushfire-recovery
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/press-conference-australian-parliament-house-act-11may20