Efforts to revive the economy across the region after last year's devastating bushfires have been bolstered, with the Federal Government establishing a $448.5 million Regional Bushfire Recovery and Development Program in the Mid North Coast and Hunter.
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The program will provide additional funding and expertise to industries in bushfire-affected communities in an effort to get them back on their feet.
Federal member for Lyne, Dr David Gillespie, said the economic impact to the agriculture, tourism and forestry industries as a result of the fires was $92 million across the Mid Coast, $121 million across Port Macquarie-Hastings, and $1 million across Dungog.
"This support from this latest funding boost would back local projects and recovery plans, as well as initiatives that benefit all bushfire-affected communities," Dr Gillespie said.
"Since the bushfires, there have been a broad range of social, health, infrastructure and economic challenges and I have been working with the minister to develop different programs that can provide local assistance.
"We need to ensure a strong economic recovery to enable families and businesses to get back on their feet and rebuild their lives.
"This program recognises the importance of our towns and villages having a voice in the recovery process.
"This is an opportunity for our community to share ideas and projects with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency through the State Government who will work with local council to roll-out support as quickly as possible."
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Dr Gillespie said the projects and initiatives would be tailored using local knowledge, and could range from initiatives that promoted economic activity and supported community wellbeing, to projects that focussed on the landscape and water, replacing produce and stock, or building future resilience.
The $650 million package also includes:
- $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;
- $13.5 million for community wellbeing and participation, backing primary health networks with additional funding to provide critical, localised support for bushfire-affected individuals to ensure their emotional and mental wellbeing;
- $149.7 million for bushfire recovery related to species and landscapes such as habitat regeneration, waterway and catchment restoration including erosion control, weed and pest management; and
- $27.1 million for strengthening telecommunications capabilities before the next bushfire season, including the deployment of approximately 2,000 satellite phones to rural fire depots and evacuation centres.
For further details on the package, visit the National Bushfire Recovery Agency website.
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