Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill has welcomed the announcement of significant funding by NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell, Treasurer Mike Baird and Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage for the Blue Mountains bushfire clean up and recovery, which will be provided under the jointly funded Federal-NSW Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
This is the announcement Council and the Recovery team, led by Phil Koperberg, had been expecting after working with the NSW and Australian Governments to grasp the scale of the bushfire disaster and the cold, hard reality of the clean up costs.
The actual funding amount is not yet known but a nominal commitment of $10 million is a welcome addition to the initial $1.4 million ‘make safe’ funding, as it reflects the true cost of the massive clean up process and waste disposal confronting fire affected residents.
This funding now mirrors the state of emergency and natural disaster declarations made by the NSW Government at the outset of the bushfire emergency. Councillor Greenhill said it was appropriate that such declarations are backed up by adequate funding and support services.
“It is imperative that the scale of our recovery efforts match the scale of the disaster so that residents who have lost their homes or sustained significant damage can recover and rebuild their homes and lives.
“The funding announcement is the much needed missing link at this critical stage of bushfire recovery and rebuild. The lack of government funding until now has left the recovery process in a holding pattern.”
Cr Greenhill said Council was encouraged that fire affected residents could now be relieved of one burden in getting to the next step in the recovery process.
“Importantly, the joint funding announcement also recognises that a regional Council like the Blue Mountains does not have the capacity to deal with the magnitude of bushfire related waste material at its local landfill facilities.
“Adequate funding will result in a fast, safe and more efficient clean-up process for the 203 properties destroyed, and 109 properties significantly damaged, by the bushfires.
Blue Mountains City Council, with the NSW Government appointed recovery team, will continue to provide necessary support and services to fire affected residents.
“The road to recovery is a long one for residents whose homes have been destroyed or damaged,” Cr Greenhill said. “We are united in that recovery.”
