The January bushfires saw approximately 125 houses and shacks destroyed or damaged in the Sorell municipal area, the majority of these in Dunalley.
Mayor Kerry Vincent said during the fire Council supported the community through management of the fire refuge and recovery centre, and provided residents with essential services such as access to water, waste collection and extra green and hard waste collections.
“Council also passed several rate remissions in order to aid bushfire-affected residents to recover and rebuild.
“Upon verification that an owner-occupied property was destroyed or significantly damaged by bushfire, Council remitted the general rate, planning, building and plumbing fees, waste collection service charges, wastewater treatment system service charges, and caravan licenses.”
From the first days of the fire Council were on the ground providing support and advice to the community and this remains ongoing.
Council staff have worked with Government agencies and local communities to provide necessary services and advice in regards to on–the–ground safety and reconstruction issues.
Additional support was provided to Dunalley on bushfire–related environmental health issues. An Environmental Health Officer worked with property owners and contractors to get bushfire affected properties correctly cleaned up.
Parks and Reserves staff members provided expert assistance on burnt vegetation removal for the safety of residents. Council’s Natural Resource Management Officer has also provided post-fire weed and revegetation advice to landholders.
Up until the end of June 2013, Council had approved 21 houses to be rebuilt, 43 garages/outbuildings, one commercial building, the new school and several temporary dwellings.
Sorell Council is now preparing a structure plan for Dunalley and the surrounding areas that will assist in guiding longer term recovery efforts. The structure plan will provide a vision and framework for the coordinated provision and arrangement of future land use and development both by the private and public sector in the fire-affected areas.
The structure plan examines, among other things, the needs of the local community now and into the future, land use and economic activity, the character and appearance of the area and the management and protection of the local environment.
Mayor Vincent said that there is a long road to recovery and rebuilding for residents of the fire affected areas.
“New houses are starting to be completed and green is starting to once again dominate the landscape. This has had an enormously emotional effect on everyone in the community and the resilience of the fire-affected residents shows what can be achieved when the community works together.
“Sorell Council is committed to consulting with the community throughout the rebuilding process and is embracing the opportunity to revitalise these communities.”
