Australia bushfires: BlazeAid build 500km of fences for farmers

Volunteers have rebuilt more than 500km of farmers’ fences, but coordinating charity BlazeAid say it is still only a “dint” in this year’s bushfire recovery.

Massive task: BlazeAid founders Kevin and Rhonda Butler expect the fence rebuild to take 12 months. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

DISASTER-aid charity Blaze­Aid has rebuilt almost enough farm fences to cover the distance from Melbourne to Mildura, but says it is still only a “dint” in this year’s bushfire recovery.

On average, about 1000 volunteers a day were working across the east coast of Australia and have already built at least 500km of fencing and cleaned up another 700km. But their job is far from over.

“We’ll be at it for 12 months,” BlazeAid president Kevin Butler said. “The destruction is massive.”

He said BlazeAid was currently preparing for winter and working out how to best accommodate backpackers who would take advantage of recent working-holiday visa changes, allowing volunteer work in bushfire areas to count towards backpackers’ regional work to obtain a second-year visa.

“I would not be surprised if we have up to 500 backpackers a day,” Mr Butler said.

“We’ve had calls from all over the world — particularly England, Italy, France and America.”

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While there are many farmers needing help and volunteer numbers are looking up, Mr Butler said fencing supplies were not. “There’s reports of short­ages of posts and wire Australia wide,” he said.