More than two years on from the October 2013 bushfires, Blue Mountains City Council has formally acknowledged the progress of the ongoing community recovery.
As the recovery co-ordination finished in December 2015, council acknowledged the financial assistance of the NSW and Australian governments under the National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements late last year.
“The Community Recovery Fund has made a significant and important contribution to the individuals and families affected by the bushfires,” said mayor Mark Greenhill.
“Also, to the services supporting the community in their ongoing recovery, as well as building community resilience to better prepare for any future natural disaster,” he added.
The funding model for long-term recovery was the first of its kind in NSW. A total of $1.4 million funded programs to support the priorities of socio-economic recovery, disaster preparedness and resilience activities.
“We're seeing a second wave of psycho-social effects from the bushfires,” the mayor said. “Further government funding for community support services is required to help people dealing with issues that are only just starting to emerge.”
Federal Member for Macquarie Louise Markus said the community has “come a long way following the 2013 bushfires. I am pleased the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangement helped rebuild the homes and lives of this community.”
State Member for Blue Mountains Trish Doyle praised council for supporting the community in the wake of the bushfires, but recognised for many people, recovery is still on-going.
Pictured are members of the reference group with government representatives:
Serge Rosato (principal, St Thomas Aquinas Primary School); Ken Wade-Ferrel (Winmalee RFS); mayor Mark Greenhill; Louise Markus (Member for Macquarie), Trish Doyle (Member for Blue Mountains), Kris Newton (Mountains Community Resource Network), Angela Langdon (BM Conservation Society); Cr Mick Fell (chair CRG); Morna Colbran (Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre), and Katrina Middlebrook, (principal, Winmalee High).