Extension of Victorian bushfire rebuilding assistance
Thursday, 03 November 2011
The Victorian Government today announced that local councils still rebuilding from the 2009 bushfires will now have an extra year to claim reconstruction funding.
Australian and Victorian Governments have agreed to extend the deadline for infrastructure claims for the 2009 bushfires under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
Under the NDRRA, the Australian and Victorian Governments jointly fund the rebuilding of critical community infrastructure in areas hit by disaster, including roads, bridges and schools.
The extension will help many of the communities devastated by the 2009 bushfires that were also severely affected by floods last year.
That second natural disaster in as many years put some bushfire recovery projects back to square one and gave very little time for these council shires to meet the initial funding deadline.
To date the Australian Government alone has contributed more than $468 million to help rebuild communities after the 2009 bushfires, in addition to an advance payment of $500m for reconstruction efforts following floods earlier this year.
The extension to NDRRA will provide reassurance for councils still in the midst of reconstruction activities and is good news for the Nillumbik, Murrindindi, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges municipalities where there are still a number of important outstanding recovery projects.
Nillumbik, Murrindindi, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges shires have provided Emergency Management Australia and the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance with a list of projects that need an extension. Projects are being assessed to ensure they are consistent with the NDRRA criteria.
Affected councils now have until June 2012 to complete remaining community recovery and reconstruction activities under the NDRRA.
