Shoalhaven City Council has been successful in securing $12 million for recovery in the Shoalhaven, response and preparedness projects following a recent funding announcement.
Council has been awarded funding for eight projects through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package, co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments, which will deliver $283 million for bushfire-affected communities.
Council has received funding for the following projects:
- Construction of a fire station for Manyana/Bendalong.
- Improve the resilience of four Shoalhaven showgrounds for bushfire and emergency evacuations.
- Extend and improve the Lake Conjola Fire Station.
- Supporting Lake Conjola tourism access with a new regional boat ramp.
- Design and construct a new Bendeela Reservoir and Fire Water Tanks.
- Provision of a user shared pathway and Bridge on Lake Conjola Entrance Road as a key piece of infrastructure leading into Lake Conjola.
- Upgrade major telecommunication site's resilience to catastrophic events.
- Huskisson Mangrove Boardwalk refurbishment of the current wooden structure built over the mudflats and through the mangroves into a wider and inclusive structure.
Other projects funded related to the Shoalhaven include:
- Upgrade and refurbish sections of the PCYC Shoalhaven Club to improve safety and better serve the Shoalhaven community.
- Implement anti-erosion and sediment measures; control weeds; manage fires; provide training; run workshops and build land management contract businesses on public land in the Shoalhaven.
- Implement the Positive Futures recovery program to build resilience, mental health, and networks for bushfire-affected young people and communities.
- Install a microgrid energy infrastructure at Bawley Point and Kioloa.
- Implementation for Anglicare's Road to Recovery Program as a focused approach to engaging communities across the Shoalhaven, Queanbeyan-Palerang, and New England Local Government Areas.
- Provide practical assistance to regenerate tracts of devasted forest land; regenerate habitats for important species; oversee natural regeneration; reduce fire risk and treat weed incursions, and collect data on forest regeneration and post-fire biodiversity in areas around Milton.
- Establish an Aboriginal-led land management team in Shoalhaven.
Shoalhaven City Council Mayor Amanda Findley was delighted to receive the news.
"Today's funding announcement will help Shoalhaven City Council fast-track local infrastructure projects that focus on bushfire recovery, response, and preparedness", Clr Findley said.
"I thank the Australian and NSW State Governments for viewing our regional Fire Stations as a priority, with the improvement for Lake Conjola and the construction of the Manyana/Bendalong fire station being announced.
"The funding will support local job retention and creation in bushfire impacted regions, strengthen community resilience and reduce the impact of future natural disasters," Clr Findley said.
Council applied for a number of projects under the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package.
Projects were identified from a range of sources such as Local and Regional Recovery Action Plans, existing NSW Government programs, and directly from councils.
The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Package is part of the $4.5 billion bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments.
