Bushfire funding: East Gippsland allocation goes from $4.5 million to $28.5 million

Bairnsdale airport will receive a $9.9m upgrade to better equip the facility for future emergencies, after criticism it was given a raw deal.

A $9.9 million upgrade of Bairnsdale airport to better equip the facility for future emergencies tops an expanded list of projects to be funded after criticism East Gippsland was given a raw deal in the initial rollout of bushfire recovery cash.

MPs Darren Chester and Tim Bull and former East Gippsland mayor Mendy Urie last year voiced their disapproval when the region where more than 400 homes were destroyed two years ago would receive the same amount as other areas with far less direct impact.

The federal government has announced an additional $110 million will be provided under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program and East Gippsland shire’s allocation has gone from $4.5 million to $28.5 million.

Successful projects in East Gippsland were announced on Monday and the major airport upgrade will allow larger planes carrying fresh firefighters to land in Bairnsdale rather than coming by road.

Airport shortcomings were raised with Mr Bull by CFA South East Region Deputy Chief Officer Trevor Owen in the fires’ aftermath.

“Volunteer firefighter time on the fireground is absolutely critical,” Mr Owen said.

“But often what happens with volunteers, who are giving up a few days through work or privately to come and fight bushfires in support of other communities, is they are losing days of travel by road.

“When you are a volunteer we want to make sure we use their time most productively.”

Mr Bull said the additional cash, up from an initial $280 million, was a belated win for East Gippslanders, in particular the airport.

“The fires were on such a large scale and burning right up the eastern seaboard and not just confined to East Gippsland,” Mr Bull said.

“Firefighters were coming in from interstate and for memory we even had some international ones here.

“You need to land them, get them out and not have to transport them in cars from Melbourne.

“The original funding formula simply wasn’t fair.”

More than half of the East Gippsland local government area was burnt in the fires and towns including Mallacoota, Sarsfield and Buchan were badly affected.

An upgraded Bairnsdale airport can also resurrect discussions about bringing a commercial air service to East Gippsland.