South Australia’s bushfire recovery has been given a $4.9 million boost to help further support work being done for both Cudlee Creek and Kangaroo Island fire-impacted communities.
The additional funding will help with more clean-up work, a feral pig eradication program on Kangaroo Island, and the all-important work of the Local Recovery Coordinators and their Community Development Officers.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the Morrison Coalition Government is committed to helping bushfire-affected communities throughout the recovery process.
“The resilience of Australia’s bushfire-affected communities has been amazing, and we will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those impacted through the recovery,” said Minister Littleproud.
“We have always known the scale and complexity of the recovery following the 2019-20 bushfires was significant and we will continue to support Australians who need it.
“Recovery will be a long and often difficult process for some individuals, businesses and communities who have been so heavily impacted by last summer’s bushfires.
“We are pleased to meet South Australia’s latest investment in bushfire recovery with a matching $2.45 million.”
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development David Basham, who toured a bushfire-affected farming property with Premier Steven Marshall in the Adelaide Hills today, said bushfire-affected primary producers across South Australia have received more than $22 million in grant funding.
“Working with the Morrison Coalition Government we have delivered significant financial support to more than 300 primary producers as they look to get their businesses back up and running as quickly as possible,” said Minister Basham.
“Kangaroo Island primary producers have received more than $10 million in support grants, over $9 million to those affected by the Cudlee Creek fire, more than $1 million to Yorke Peninsula farmers and almost $1 million to those impacted in the South East.
“The $75,000 recovery grants are being used to assist with immediate bushfire recovery activities such as clean-up, fencing and other vital rebuilding.
“We have extended the eligibility criteria for the grants to make sure as many primary producers as possible can access support.”
Brukunga cattle producer Heidi Sowerby said at the time of the Cudlee Creek fire, their property had approximately 280 head of cattle but with 13km of fencing, water troughs lost along with a tractor and some shedding and stockyards, there was significant amounts of recovery work to be done.
“In the immediate aftermath of the fire it was all a bit of an unknown along with concerns over potential ash contamination in the dams and what feed we had left,” said Ms Sowerby.
“We are only just getting back with the rebuilding phase now with about 140 head now back on the property.
“The Lobethal Recovery Centre was an absolute godsend for us, just being a one-stop shop where we could get all the information we needed.
“With the grant, we submitted our application at the end of January and the money was in our bank account within a month.”
The Government has committed $169 million to help South Australian bushfire-affected communities, supported by the Commonwealth through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
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