Rebuilding Glenburn, Murrindindi, Woodbourne & Limestone (Melba Group)

The Communities

Glenburn, Murrindindi, Woodbourne and Limestone are located approximately one hour from Melbourne along the Melba Highway. The towns are south of Yea and to the north-east of Kinglake within the boundaries of Murrindindi Shire.

Cattle, sheep and dairy farming are prominent businesses in the area in addition to the local vineyards. This is complemented by an increasing number of people of all ages that reside in the area.

Glenburn

Glenburn is a small hamlet located within rolling hills and valleys only 80 kms from Melbourne. The local Country Fire Authority (CFA) is an integral part of the community. The rural district has approximately 179 residents.

The main industries are cattle, sheep and dairy farming. Glenburn is also well known for its local vineyard, Estate.  It is home to numerous boutique wineries and Bed & Breakfasts. The main features of Glenburn include the Glenburn Hall and the English Oak trees along the Melba Highway War Memorial.

The Sugarloaf Pipeline Project near Glenburn involves construction of a 70 km pipeline linking the Goulburn River near Yea to the Sugarloaf Reservoir in Melbourne's north-east.

Murrindindi - Woodbourne

Murrindindi-Woodbourne's population is estimated at around 160 permanent residents.

The community has it's own local CFA and is well known for two trout farms, several commercial vineyards including the award winning Cuthbertson Family vineyard and several smaller wineries. It also has a working functional timber mill, prime producing cattle studs (Lawson's Angus & Paringa Charolois) and several B & B's.

The communities of Murrindindi and Woodbourne are nestled between the Black Range and the Melba Highway and has a high rate of tourism due to the Murrindindi Scenic Reserve offering fishing, camping, a well known mountain bike track, 4wd tracks, motorbike riding, horse riding, bush walking and the added bonus of the beautiful Wilhelmina Falls and Cascades being a feature of the reserve for sightseers.  The Murrindindi River winds its way through the valley and the community of Murrindindi-Woodbourne.

Limestone

Limestone's population is approximately 250 people. The Yea Flora Fossil Site at Barclay's Cutting, Limestone (formerly the Baragwanathia Fossil Site), was listed on the Australian Government's National Heritage List under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The site is internationally significant as the oldest and most diverse range of fossils, which are said to be 415 million years old, representing the oldest record of vascular land plants in Australia, and possibly the world.

The Bushfires

Murrindindi Shire was hit with the full force of the firestorm on Saturday 7 February 2009 with almost 70 per cent of businesses, houses, livestock and natural landscape destroyed. Vast hectares of pasture were lost and the water supply was severely impacted. The majority of fruit in the nearby vineyards was smoke tainted.

Seven properties were destroyed at Glenburn, nine at Murrindindi and one at Limestone.

One business was lost at Murrindindi, while the Glenburn Hotel was completely destroyed.

The Murrindindi Scenic Reserve was also destroyed including attractions such as Wilhelmina Falls, the Cascades and Black Range.

Recovery Plan

Since the 2009 bushfires Community Recovery Committees and the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (the Authority) have worked in partnership with the community, other government departments and authorities, the philanthropic sector and private donors to deliver outcomes for the vast majority of recovery projects proposed in the 33 Community Recovery Plans across the state. The plans have been pivotal in driving and directing the community rebuilding and recovery effort, through a focus on the needs and priorities of each individual community.

With around 1,100 projects and ideas identified in plans across Victoria, the Authority estimates that around 800 of these have been addressed in varying ways. Hundreds more projects identified outside this process have been delivered across affected communities.

The attachments below include the Community Recovery Plan and the response and funding status for all of the projects originally identified: