Pinery bushfire: State Government announces $1m in extra funding for victims

ALMOST $1m in funding will be provided to those battling ongoing trauma more than six months since the devastating Pinery bushfires.

ALMOST $1m in funding will be provided to those battling ongoing trauma more than six months since the devastating Pinery bushfires.

The State Government announced on Sunday that $860,000 will be spent on the “long-term mental health” needs of residents, farmers and the wider mid-north community affected by last year’s blaze.

On Sunday, the bushfire’s six month anniversary, it was revealed the funding will support specific outreach and development programs while money will be provided to individual case management.

Funding will also be provided to the Red Cross, to continue its “invaluable work with fire affected communities”, Communities and Social Inclusion Minister, Zoe Bettison, said.

She said services available included mental health and wellbeing counselling, property clean-up and assistance with revegetation of paddocks left decimated by the fire.

“(We are) committed to working closely with those affected by the fire to support their strong and resilient approach to community recovery,” she said.

The November 25 blaze killed Allan Tiller, 69, and Janet Hughes, 56, injured 31 people, destroyed at least 97 homes, scorched 85,000ha of land and left a damage bill of almost $170 million.

A tree burns in the Pinery fire near Wasleys. Picture: Tony Virgo

More than $2.17 million has been donated to the Pinery fire appeal — $900,000 of which has been used by affected locals.

Households face a $268 Emergency Services Levy bill in the coming year, as the tax rises for the third year in a row to pay for equipment and the cost of fighting bushfires, including $2.8 million the Pinery blaze.

Major Crime detectives believe the blaze may have been sparked by a disused car battery found resting on a dormant electric fence in a paddock on a property bordering Plains Rd and Port Lorne Rd.

The property’s distraught owner, Greg Barr, 52, is not blamed for the bushfire, which does not appear suspicious.

More than 1860 insurance claims have been lodged in its wake — almost three quarters of which are “commercial losses”.

In contrast after last year’s Sampson Flat bushfire, at least 1060 claims were made, at a value of $49.3 million.