Rebuilding Strathewen, Arthurs Creek and surrounds
The Communities
Strathewen and Arthurs Creek are situated north of Melbourne in the Shire of Nillumbik.
Strathewen, despite its relatively small size, was well served by a fire station, community hall, school and cricket ground before the fires. The region produces apples and pears and is home to small local vineyards and wineries.
The township of Arthurs Creek is home to a primary school, Mechanics Institute Hall, CFA station and a Uniting Church. It boasts a cricket oval known as Ryder's Flat and the Arthurs Creek Cemetery which dates back to the 1870s. Today, the town is a mixture of smaller farm properties including vineyards, orchards and life-style properties.
The Bushfires
Strathewen and Arthurs Creek suffered significant loss of life with the fires claiming 27 lives in Strathewen and two at Arthurs Creek.
These towns also recorded large-scale destruction to buildings, with 82 properties destroyed at Strathewen and two at Arthurs Creek.
The fires destroyed the Strathewen Primary School Hall and Cricket Pavilion, while the sporting oval surface and cricket pitch were damaged. Smaller agricultural and trade businesses were adversely affected, with significant loss of flora and fauna and substantial damage to local waterways and agricultural areas.
At Arthurs Creek, a number of smaller agri-businesses lost crops, and tradespeople reported the loss of vehicles, tools and business records.
There was significant damage to road infrastructure and signs, with erosion damage to drainage infrastructure and culverts.
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:
| Email the Fire Recovery Unit or call 1800 055 714 |
