In early 2009, bushfires swept across Victoria, devastating 78 communities and 400,000 hectares of land. A total of 173 people lost their lives. The devastation resulted in 2,029 homes destroyed, along with hundreds of businesses, five schools and kindergartens, three sporting clubs and numerous other buildings.
Sadly, 12 people from the Whittlesea municipality died from the fires and many more narrowly escaped with their lives. Within the municipality, 167 properties were destroyed or were severely damaged, including 76 houses destroyed.
As the major evacuation point for people from Kinglake and Flowerdale, Whittlesea soon became the focal point for the nation and the world’s media. Today, this regional focus remains and the ongoing recovery continues as the Whittlesea Community Services Hub remains the busiest in Victoria.
Council continues to support the community to create a ‘new normal’, with a focus on rebuilding the community’s most important asset – its people.
With the help of generous donations and government funding, Council’s Bushfire Recovery Team is assisting the community through the ongoing recovery journey, by providing a range of health and wellbeing programs and supporting opportunities to reconnect people and networks. Council is also providing practical on the ground assistance with fence replacement, land recovery services and fast tracking rebuilding applications.
As a community, there is still much to do and the year ahead will continue to bring many challenges and opportunities.
