Wednesday, 30 October 2019

Bunyip bushfires

Mr BLACKWOOD (Narracan) (09:46): The Bunyip complex of fires is well and truly extinguished, but the recovery process is still underway and will be for some time, as was our experience after the Black Saturday fires of 2009. The response from the Andrews government to the Bunyip fires earlier this year has been very disappointing, especially compared to the response of the Brumby government in 2009.

Following the 2009 fires there was financial assistance provided to all businesses impacted either directly or indirectly by the fires. All those who lost their home, insured or not, received a one-off payment of around $40 000 to help with the clean-up and rebuild. None of this has been made available to those who lost homes, businesses, outbuildings, fencing, pasture or water infrastructure during the Bunyip fires earlier this year. A recent survey conducted by the community recovery committee found that the issues residents needed assistance with included roadside clearing of fire-created debris and revegetation; fencing on private land, especially on land sharing a boundary with a government agency; rate relief—somehow property valuations have increased despite being completely burnt out; and also pasture re-establishment.

The community becomes the engine room of recovery after disasters, and the four distinct communities of Tonimbuk, Garfield North, Bunyip North and Tynong North have assisted each other brilliantly, but the Andrews government needs to step up and partner with these communities. Assets like halls, community centres and meeting places must be built or rejuvenated. Tony Fitzgerald and his recovery committee are doing a great job, but they genuinely need more government assistance. A visit from the Premier and ministers would be a good start given they have never visited the area since the fires.