Council approves eight priority projects to submit in the $280M Black Summer Bushfire Recovery funding
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Council has resolved to submit eight priority projects in bushfire mitigation works to the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Programme.
In a special Council Meeting held last week, an update of the current bushfire mitigation works conducted by Livingstone Shire Council was presented, as well as the identified projects which were approved by Council to submit as part of the $280 million Australian Government funding programme.
Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, Mayor Andy Ireland, said the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants potentially provides an opportunity for Council to secure funds to enhance the community’s preparedness and resilience to disasters, through the provision of ongoing recovery support and upgrades to community infrastructure.
“Livingstone has been impacted by a number of disasters over the past six years and has received millions of dollars in funding from both the Australian and Queensland governments, for which Council is incredibly grateful,” Mayor Ireland said.
“With this assistance, Council has been able to carry out a number of projects including property planning workshops, stakeholder engagement, empowered to survive workshops, bushfire information sessions, and rural road maintenance identified.
“Works were also identified in consultation with Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), in particular our rural volunteer fire brigades and then confirmed at a Local Disaster Management Group meeting.”
The projects recommended to Council under the BSBR programme include the continuation of a Bushfire Resilience Officer, bushfire mitigation fleet items, and Local Disaster Co-ordination Centre technology upgrades, as well as the repair and upgrade of the carpark at the Barmaryee Multi-Sports Precinct to support a staging area for emergency services during disaster events.
“Continued bushfire mitigation in partnership with the requests from Rural Fire Brigades, including accesses to fire sheds from Council roads, the Taste Capricorn Coast Project in partnership with Capricorn Enterprise, and the completion of site improvements to the Station site, activating the old Railway building surrounds, will also form part of the submission,” Mayor Ireland added.
“Council welcomes the news that the Australian Government is extending the closing date for the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) Grants programme to 6 October 2021, giving Council and the Livingstone community more time to apply.”
In total, Council’s eight priority projects are valued at over $6million.
“This funding supports Council’s goal as outlined in the Livingstone Community Plan: Towards 2050, to increase the community’s preparedness for disaster through community education, training, and strong partnerships between Council and other agencies,” Mayor Ireland said.
“Council has carefully considered each of these projects and believes they will all play an essential role in improving our bushfire and disaster preparedness across the entire Shire and will bring the greatest benefit to all communities.
Council will keep the community informed following the outcome of the submission.
For more information about the eight identified projects, please visit: