Victims of 2021 Cherry Gardens bushfire receive funding boost to help manage their land

Landholders who were victims of one of SA’s worst bushfires have received a much needed funding boost to help rehabilitate their land.

Property owners hit by the Cherry Gardens bushfire will share in almost $90,000 worth of grants to help undertake much-needed rehabilitation of their land.

The Cherry Gardens bushfire destroyed over 27,000ha in January 2021, affecting private properties and public reserves, including Scott Creek Conservation Park and Mount Bold Reservoir.

A total of 18 landholders will be allocated grants, made available through the State Government’s Catchment Recovery funding package.

Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board general manager Michael Garrod said the board was working closely with landholders to help them tackle fire-related land management issues on properties.

He said the work would include revegetation, pest plant and animal control, watercourse rehabilitation, pasture management, and erosion control.

“It’s a big job and these grants are one more step in a long recovery process. We will

continue to work with the state government to ensure landholders get the support they need,” he said.

Further support will be rolled out over the next 18 months including grants for landholders affected by the Cudlee Creek fires, who were previously not ready for land management support.

CFS battled the Cherry Gardens bushfire in January 2021. Picture: Josh Boyce

Fire, Fire, Go Away

The news comes as the CFS released its new bushfire ready campaign on Sunday, which will “make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up,” Emergency Services Minister Vincent Tarzia said.

The ‘Be Bushfire Ready’ campaign, which incorporates a popular children’s nursery rhyme and emotive content, aims to encourage South Australians to plan and prepare for the 2021-22 fire season.

“That planning can be as simple as checking the weather forecast, familiarising yourself with the fire danger ratings and knowing what can and can’t be done on total fire ban days,” Mr Tarzia said.

The fire danger season starts on Monday on the Eastern Eyre Peninsula, Flinders, North East Pastoral, North West Pastoral, West Coast and Yorke Peninsula districts.

The fire danger season begins for the Mount Lofty Ranges, Metropolitan Adelaide and Kangaroo Island districts on December 1.

For more information visit cfs.sa.gov.au.