The Australian Government has provided funding to local community projects in Grey under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program with five projects receiving a total of $5.7m in support.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said the projects in Grey are among the 524 projects funded under the program.
Mr Ramsey said the overall program funding was boosted by $110 million to $390 million to further support communities around Australia to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.
“A $1.59m Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant has been allocated for the construction of new 4GX Mobile Base Station Coulta,” he said.
“Lower EP has experienced a number of serious fires through an extended period including the devastating 2005 Wangary Fires which took nine lives, injured 115, destroyed or significantly damaged 93 houses, hundreds of sheds and stock losses in the tens of thousands.
“On Remembrance Day 2019 a fire broke out near Duck Ponds on the outskirts of Port Lincoln. Mercifully, it was nothing like the scale of the Wangary Fire.
“Two houses were lost and 228hc burnt out, however, prompt action by the CFS saved more than 40 homes.
“This investment recognises the vital part mobile phones play in fire prone areas and the much- improved communication in this higher risk area and is a very welcome announcement.”“
On Thursday 20th November 2019 a fire caused by an electrical fault broke out at Yorketown. It damaged 11 properties and 5000hc were burnt in total.
“As one of the affected areas the following Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants have been allocated in the YP Council area.”
Yorke Peninsula Council received funding for four projects-
- $40,000 funding for bushfire preparedness signage
- $1.8m for a multi-purpose community centre at Edithburgh oval
- $2.25m for the Southern York community childcare centre to operate at Minlaton
- $40000 to repair both the roof and wall mural damaged by fire at the Edithburgh RSL and Bowling Club
“These 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.
“As part of the now $2.2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program is backing projects which the affected communities have said will best support their ongoing recovery.
“We understand that recovery from bushfires takes time, and we will continue to support impacted communities through their recovery from the devastating Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020.”
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 02 6277 4967 Feb 15 2022