Federal grant funding to help fire affected communities

17 February 2022

Mount Barker District Council has been successful in their bid to receive funding from a Federal Government grant program to support communities to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.

The $390 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program provides support for the medium and long-term recovery needs identified by communities affected by the bushfires across Australia.

Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan CSC said the grants will fund a broad range of recovery and resilience projects, from social and community wellbeing right through to projects that support local jobs, small businesses and infrastructure.

Three Mount Barker District Council projects can now get underway thanks to a total of $620,000 from the fund.

Over two thirds of the funding - $440,000 - will enable the Council to continue removing fire affected burnt, dead and dangerous roadside tree material within the Cudlee Creek fire scar, and replacing road markers damaged during the fires.

Mayor Ann Ferguson said this is such important work that not only provides safety to road users but has mental health benefits for the people of Harrogate and Brukunga as the remnants of the devastating fires are removed from their community.

Remaining funds will go towards a series of workshops to provide business support and technology solutions to help local agricultural businesses build productivity ($110,000), and a mural on the walls of Wallis Cinemas representing various themes and including an augmented reality component to bring the mural to life ($70,000).

“Agriculture is a critical part of the districts economy and has recently lost jobs”, Mayor Ferguson said

“This funding will help us support this sector through education and access to new products, services and technology.”

“The Wallis Cinema played a big part in supporting the district’s population during both the Cudlee Creek and Cherry Gardens fires” Mayor Ferguson added

“The cinema buildings were made available as refuge spaces for affected residents and their pets during these fires. With the cinema business now struggling due to the COVID pandemic, this art project will create a unique interactive experience for visitors to the area”.

A number of other projects by community organisations in Mount Barker or as part of a multi-council submission have also been funded including $135,000 to the Harrogate Hall Committee towards a landscaping upgrade which aims to create a community gathering space in the township.

Planning work for these projects can now start with workshops to commence and the mural to be completed in 2022.

Roadside clearance and maintenance in the fire scar areas will carry on from work already undertaken and is expected to be finished in 2023.