Executive summary The Premier, Steve Bracks, MP, announced the formation of the Ministerial Taskforce on Bushfire Recovery on 31 January 2003. The Ministers appointed to the Taskforce were: The Hon John Brumby, MP, Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development (Chair) The Hon John Thwaites MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Water, Environment and Victorian Communities The Hon Bob Cameron MP, Minister for Agriculture The Hon Sherryl Garbutt MP, Minister for Community Services The Hon Candy Broad MLC, Minister for Local Government The Hon John Pandazopoulos MP, Minister for Tourism The Hon Andre Haermeyer MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services The final report of the Taskforce will be presented at the end of March 2003. Action to date The Government has already responded with a multi-million dollar package to support recovery including: $1 million for the establishment of a Bushfire Recovery Trust Fund with an 1800 hotline for community and business donations. This has been matched by a $1 million contribution from the Commonwealth Government. $733,000 for a Social Recovery Strategy that includes funds for community development workers and counsellors to Indigo, Alpine, Towong and East Gippsland Shires. $500,000 for the provision of emergency fodder to farmers through the Victorian Farmers Federation. $200,000 for grants of up to $50,000 each to the Towong, East Gippsland, Indigo and Alpine Shires to support municipal emergency co-ordination centres, community meetings and volunteers and to celebrate the community spirit and resilience during recovery from the bushfires. $175,000 has been provided to over 400 families as Hardship Relief Grants. $200,000 for the employment of 20 short-term employees over three months to deliver immediate emergency fire recovery works in parks and reserves. $100,000 has been redirected to commence repair of key tourism and access roads and tracks impacted by fire in the Alps. Rural Finance Corporation Concession Loans to primary producers and small businesses. $100,000 available to fund an additional 5 to be employed on a short term basis in ‘doggers’ Gippsland to work with the local community to coordinate baiting and trapping of wild dogs for stock protection purposes. $70,000 advertising campaign commenced on 16 February 2003 with a series of full and half page announcements from the Premier in Melbourne newspapers outlining the facts
Executive summary The Premier, Steve Bracks, MP, announced the formation of the Ministerial Taskforce on Bushfire Recovery on 31 January 2003. The Ministers appointed to the Taskforce were: The Hon John Brumby, MP, Treasurer and Minister for State and Regional Development (Chair) The Hon John Thwaites MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Water, Environment and Victorian Communities The Hon Bob Cameron MP, Minister for Agriculture The Hon Sherryl Garbutt MP, Minister for Community Services The Hon Candy Broad MLC, Minister for Local Government The Hon John Pandazopoulos MP, Minister for Tourism The Hon Andre Haermeyer MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services The final report of the Taskforce will be presented at the end of March 2003. Action to date The Government has already responded with a multi-million dollar package to support recovery including: $1 million for the establishment of a Bushfire Recovery Trust Fund with an 1800 hotline for community and business donations. This has been matched by a $1 million contribution from the Commonwealth Government. $733,000 for a Social Recovery Strategy that includes funds for community development workers and counsellors to Indigo, Alpine, Towong and East Gippsland Shires. $500,000 for the provision of emergency fodder to farmers through the Victorian Farmers Federation. $200,000 for grants of up to $50,000 each to the Towong, East Gippsland, Indigo and Alpine Shires to support municipal emergency co-ordination centres, community meetings and volunteers and to celebrate the community spirit and resilience during recovery from the bushfires. $175,000 has been provided to over 400 families as Hardship Relief Grants. $200,000 for the employment of 20 short-term employees over three months to deliver immediate emergency fire recovery works in parks and reserves. $100,000 has been redirected to commence repair of key tourism and access roads and tracks impacted by fire in the Alps. Rural Finance Corporation Concession Loans to primary producers and small businesses. $100,000 available to fund an additional 5 ‘doggers’ to be employed on a short term basis in Gippsland to work with the local community to coordinate baiting and trapping of wild dogs for stock protection purposes. $70,000 advertising campaign commenced on 16 February 2003 with a series of full and half page announcements from the Premier in Melbourne newspapers outlining the facts
Final_Report_on_2003_Bushfire_Recovery.docx