Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien announces Bushfire Recovery grants
A month after the region was devastated by a freak weather event, millions of dollars in disaster-ready funding are being pushed into back into the Gympie region’s economy. Here’s what it’s being spent on.
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With the recovery effort from January floods ongoing in rural areas and a Federal Election looming, the Gympie region is benefiting from significant cash splash.
Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien announced several grants on Monday morning including funding for a new car park, 11 upgraded NBN towers and a new disaster co-ordination centre.
The new disaster co-ordination centre will be located centrally in Gympie to provide better access to citizens and will be restocked with new equipment.
“This new facility will provide surety in times of disaster, as well as providing a space in an ideal location that can be used year-round for training and group activities, and will replace Gympie’s existing outdated local disaster co-ordination facility,” Mr O’Brien said.
Gympie residents will also have access to better telecommunications with 11 NBN towers upgraded in Curra Central, Curra South, Araluen North, Pie Creek, Goomboorian, Glastonbury, Traveston, Banks Pocket East, East Deep Creek, Tamaree South and Southside.
The project received a grant of $1.4 million and will be used for emergency backup power.
Mr O’Brien also announced a new $150,000 car park for the Kandanga Community Hall to provide better access for volunteers and emergency services workers.
“Kadanga's community hall and Rural Fire Service shed share a block on Main Street which has limited space for parking, impacting the ability of the Rural Fire Brigade to assist in emergencies as their driveway can become obstructed, and it also prevents community members from being able to safely congregate at the hall during response and recovery activities,” Mr O’Brien said.
More than 18 projects through the Wide Bay will receive grants from the Bushfire Recovery Fund.
Mr O’Brien is set to make more announcements on Tuesday morning.
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