Projects across Port Macquarie-Hastings support recovery after bushfires

The resulting Port Macquarie-Hastings Council, business, community services and infrastructure projects relate to bushfire preparedness and recovery across the local government area.

The council received bushfire recovery funding of $250,000 from the state government and $1.4 million from the federal government in early 2020.

The funding followed devastating bushfires during the summer of 2019-2020.

A report to the August council meeting provided a monitoring and delivery update of the council and community projects funded under the NSW and federal government bushfire recovery funds.

Many of the recovery projects have been completed.

All funded projects through the $250,000 state government Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Fund phase one were completed by May 30, 2021.

Twenty of the Commonwealth-funded projects are complete with 13 projects still being progressed.

Both funding bodies have provided extensions as a result of COVID-19 impacts.

Completed projects range from new amenities and stable rows at Wauchope Showground to assist when the showground becomes an evacuation site for residents and their horses, to upgraded toilet amenities and a refurbished kitchen at Kendall Showground to cater for emergency crews, volunteers and evacuees.

Examples of other completed projects are gratitude murals, Christmas Bell virtual performances and a thank you to Rural Fire Service volunteers and installation of a water tank, generator cage and awning at Pappinbarra Rural Fire Service.

A small business workshop series went ahead as did a winter destination marketing campaign, Lifeline workshops and a series of small community in recovery workshops in community halls - and the list goes on.

Meanwhile, projects funded under a $250,000 grant from the state government Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund phase two are to be completed by June 30, 2022.

That includes $120,000 for a council-led small grants program for community resilience and recovery projects.

A further update report will be provided at the February council meeting.

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