NSW Bushfires: PM pledges $1 million to help Blue Mountains recover

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promises that by COB bushfire-relief money will be in the bank accounts of state governments to administer to local councils.

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has promise that by close of business today $1 million grants will be in the bank accounts of state MPs in bushfire-ravaged areas, including in the Blue Mountains.

“Importantly this is a base payment and just the start of our support for local communities, in what we know will be a long recovery,” Mr Morrison said.

Senator for Western Sydney, Marise Payne, said Blue Mountains Council can choose how this money is spent after Labor state MP Trish Doyle’s office administers the funds to council.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Senator for Western Sydney, Marise Payne. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

“As we have seen in the township of Bell, council’s recovery teams are already on the ground and this initial grant will help council to build on this effort by prioritising and delivering local recovery projects,” she said.

“While the operational response to the bushfire threat is ongoing, particularly as regards the Erskine Creek fire, the feedback I have received from locals highlights the acute need for funding to flow immediately.”

Minister for Natural Disaster and Emergency Management, David Littleproud, stressed this would not be a “Canberra-led recovery”.

“It’ll be a locally-led recovery and this is our first instalment in that process,” Mr Littleproud said.

Blue Mountains residents gathered in Lawson on Tuesday night to find out more about how firefighters are readying the area against the lethal Green Wattle Creek fire. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

Funding will be directed to councils which have been ‘activated’ by their respective state government for Category C bushfire disaster recovery relief under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Payments will not require matched funding from state governments.

They will be drawn from the $2 billion allocated to the National Bushfire Recovery Agency. This is in addition to funding automatically available to councils through other disaster recovery arrangements.

Crew members from Horsley Park RFS carry the casket of RFS volunteer Andrew O’Dwyer during his funeral service on Tuesday. Mr O’Dwyer, 36, and RFS colleague Geoffrey Keaton were killed six days before Christmas when a tree fell in the path of their truck at the still-burning Green Wattle Creek fire, causing it to roll. Picture: Twitter@NSWRFS via AP

Councils can spend the money on projects and activities they deem essential for the recovery and renewal of their communities including:

• Rebuilding damaged or destroyed council assets such as key local roads, bridges, and community facilities;
• Employing additional local staff to take on specialist recovery or planning roles to help coordinate and plan the rebuilding effort;
• Hosting new public activities and events to bring communities together and attract visitors back to affected regions; and
• Immediate maintenance and repairs to relief and evacuation centres.

“These payments will provide immediate assistance directly into the hands of local councils, to rebuild roads and infrastructure, employ staff to help in recovery activities and hold events which bring the community together and bring tourists back to town,” Mr Morrison said.

The only condition placed on councils is that they develop a program of works within three months and report back to the Commonwealth in 12 months’ time.

Blue Mountains state Labor MP and Lawson resident Trish Doyle with deputy incident controller David Crust at Tuesday’s Lawson community fire meeting. Picture: Isabell Petrinic

RFS Blue Mountains District released this map outlining the backburn operation against Erskine Creek fire. Crews have since implemented a new strategy, using Erskine Creek itself, following Tuesday’s rain in the Blue Mountains.

It comes after the Berejiklian State government yesterday morning pledged $1 billion for bushfire-ravaged communities.

A Blue Mountains Bush Fire Mayoral Relief Fund has meantime been created, to help Blue Mountains’ communities affected by recent bushfires to recover and rebuild.

This registered fund allows the community to assist our local residents in their time of need.

“Our job is to move forward with them. Together. That is my message,” Blue Mountains Mayor, Mark Greenhill, said.

“Recovery is something we do together. No one should be left to get through this alone.”

Details on how to donate are on the Blue Mountains City Council website: bmcc.nsw.gov.au.

Help the firefighters

Donations to the NSW Rural Fire Service directly benefit the volunteer firefighters on the frontline.

To help, you can contact your local brigade directly or donate here.