Rebuilding Traralgon South, Callignee and Koornalla
The Communities
Traralgon South is around 170 kilometres south-east of Melbourne, while Koornalla is slightly to the south and Callignee and Le Roy to the south-west of Traralgon South.
Traralgon South has a population of around 300 people, while Callignee is home to almost 500 people.
The area's main industries are agriculture, forestry and fishing, with strong local employment also in electricity generation, hospitals, schools and government administration.
Highlights of Traralgon include the miniature railway at Victory Park, tours of the Loy Yang Power Station and self-guided tours of the town's heritage buildings, including the old post office and courthouse in Franklin Street and the band rotunda at Victory Park.
A popular tourist attraction in Callignee is the Callignee Community Market which is held on the third Sunday of the month (closed June, July, August and September) whilst places of interest in Koornalla and Le Roy include the Koornalla Farm Park and historic sheep dip and Yerang Falls (waterfall).
The Bushfires
The bushfires first swept through the area on 7 February2009. By the time they were under control, they had claimed one property in Traralgon, 18 properties in Traralgon South, as well as around 492 kilometres of boundary fencing.
There were four fatalities in Callignee. A total of 87 properties were reported destroyed in and around Callignee. The Callignee Primary School, CFA and cricket club were damaged and water, power and communications services were affected.
There were four fatalities in Koornalla and 26 properties destroyed.
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 |
