An additional 22 Community Recovery Officers (CROs) will soon be deployed in bushfire impacted communities across NSW. This additional resourcing demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the Australian and NSW governments to the bushfire recovery efforts.
The assistance is being provided through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for a period of up to 12 months.
Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the Commonwealth Government recognises the unprecedented nature, scale and severity of the fires that have impacted NSW since 31 August 2019.
“Commonwealth and State Governments are continuing to work closely together to roll out funding and support to our impacted communities,” Minister Littleproud said.
“The local recruitment and application of these Recovery Officers is more important than ever to ensure affected areas feel they have another method of communicating with Federal and State agencies so they can continue with their recovery.
“These Recovery Officers will play an important role not only in assisting councils to lead community recovery over the next 12 months but by also providing invaluable feedback and insights from communities into the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Bushfire Recovery Agency.”
The New South Wales Deputy Premier and Minister for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said significant progress is being made across the State with the bushfire clean-up well underway and significant support for local businesses and councils.
“To date, the NSW Government has cleared more than 1300 properties and placed more than 8000 people in emergency accommodation, and we’re not stopping there,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We are helping local businesses get back on their feet by awarding 99% of the clean-up contracts to local and regional contractors.
“The NSW Government has so far rolled out a combined total of $236 million to small local businesses and primary producers who have suffered through these fires and who are the backbone of our regional towns.
“We understand that families and individuals affected by these horrific fires will need ongoing social and trauma support, so the 22 dedicated Recovery Officers will work alongside the 34 Bushfire Recovery Clinicians, to support individuals, carers and families as well as emergency service staff and volunteers.”
