Australia’s three spheres of government have acted quickly to provide aid to tsunami ravaged areas in South Asia and Africa. With $1 billion pledged by the Australian Government plus substantial donations from State and Local Governments, at the time of going to press a further $140 million had been raised by ordinary Australians digging deep to help their Indian Ocean neighbours. Donations are set to continue rising with various events planned over the next weeks and months.
A death toll exceeding 165,000 and the extent of damage across numerous nations – with whole towns and village washed away – was hard enough to comprehend, but the fear that as many people again could die from starvation or waterborne and other diseases has seen nations scrambling to provide immediate aid.
The next step of rebuilding vital infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water, sewerage and power, has resulted in many Local Governments and their staff volunteering their skills and expertise as soon as these recovery programs are established. Local Government personnel are first on the ground whenever disaster strikes in their own area, and with such massive rebuilding and recovery projects ahead, spread over a huge number of communities, their assistance will be greatly needed. The construction of housing, hospitals, schools and then the buildings and infrastructure for people to be able to start make a living again will also require long term assistance.
Recognising this, the Executive of the Local Government Association and the Shires Association of New South Wales will meet early in February to look at ways that its 152 member councils can be involved in the long term reconstruction assistance for tsunami affected areas.
It will examine how Local Government expertise can assist reconstruction and community development projects that will unfold under the auspices of agencies such as AusAID.
It is urging councils to also look at establishing sister city relationships with regional centres struck by the disaster to forge a permanent bridge of friendship and lasting community support, particularly with Australia’s nearest neighbour, Indonesia.
Some 192 councils across Australia have 320 sister city affiliations predominantly with cities or towns in the United States, Japan, China and Korea.
The City of Fremantle has had a sister city relationship with Seberang Perai in Malaysia since 1978. With Seberang Perai caught up in the disaster, Fremantle organised a tsunami appeal cocktail evening known as ‘The Brown Paper Bag Event’. Guests were asked to bring a brown paper bag with a donation inside to gain entry, in an effort to raise funds much needed funds for Seberang Perai.
Within the devastated areas and around the world, the human spirit – first of bravery and sacrifice and then generosity and direct on the ground support – has risen out of this disaster. Local Governments and their staff in Australia are, and will continue to be, involved. Through this recovery program they will be building even stronger bridges than those constructed of steel and cement, bridges that draw people together permanently through both the good and bad times.
