Rebuilding Yarram and district
The Communities
First settled in 1845, Yarram is located 220 kilometres south-east of Melbourne. Bordered by the Strzelecki Ranges to the south and Wilson's Promontory to the east, Yarram lies close to Victoria's famous 90 Mile Beach and is home to the Jack Smith Lake State Game Reserve, whose coastal lagoons, salt marshes and native grasslands provide a protected habitat for a range of water birds.
Together with Alberton and Tarraville, Yarram (population 1800) is among the oldest towns in Victoria and is noted for its fine examples of period architecture. Other nearby communities include Devon North and Won Wron.
The local economy is driven by timber milling and the farming of dairy and beef cattle, sheep and grains. Significant local employers include Murray Goulburn Laboratories and local schools and hospitals.
The Bushfires
Yarram and the surrounding communities of Devon North, Won Wron and Woodside were threatened in February 2009 by the Churchill complex of fires. More than 12,000 hectares were burnt across the Wellington Shire.
While no lives were lost, the social and economic impact of the fires has been significant; with many farmers losing land and fodder and timber plantations across the Shire suffering some $20m to $30m damage.
The February 2009 fires also had a severe impact on native forest flora and fauna, and on water quality.
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 |
