Successful Application under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program

Federal Member for Maranoa David Littleproud recently announced Council will receive $1.6 million to deliver a local led economic and social recovery and resilience program across the South Burnett.

The “Community Connection – Local Built" project will deliver a multifaceted local led and implemented economic recovery, social recovery and resilience program to build stronger South Burnett communities.

The project will be operationalised by the employment of three full time equivalent officers engaging directly with community based not for profit bodies, communities and industry led organisations.

The “Community Connection – Local Built" project will be supported by the roll out of a small grants program that provides investment for targeted action to fulfil recovery and resilience needs within the South Burnett region. The grants program will have two streams a Social Recovery and Resilience Stream (sporting, cultural, social activities & projects) and an Economic Stream (industry capacity building & support).

In reply to the announcement Mayor Otto replied, “Our communities and local industries have done it tough for a number of years with impacts not only from the bushfires in 2019 but ongoing drought, COVID 19 and recently flood and storm events.”

“This funding is a welcome stimulus that will allow Council to achieve real outcomes supporting our communities. The Australian Government’s support for the recovery of our rural communities through this program is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.”

The Project will also deliver identified priority projects that target action to achieve recovery and resilience outcomes within the South Burnett region.

Projects identified include:

• Creation of a South Burnett Community Information Platform that incorporates a Community Directory, Diary and access to a My Community App.
• Formulation of an Action Plan that operationalises the Council’s Regional Development Strategy. This action plan will make the Regional Development Strategy impactful and focus on working closely with the South Burnett communities, industry and all levels of government.
• Creation and extension of South Burnett Business Prospectus Brochure will provide a detailed overview of the South Burnett Region and its advantages as a destination to invest, do business and live.
• Development and implementation of a South Burnett Facade Improvement Scheme aimed at encouraging building owners and business operators to invest in façade renovations and storefront improvements for their building using grants to cover a portion of the renovation costs.

“Through targeted investment the “Community Connection – Local Built” project will build a local economy supporting the emotional, social, economic and physical well-being recovery needs of the South Burnett to allow our communities to become more resilient to the impact of future bushfires and other natural hazards" Mayor Otto stated.

Further details on the program will be available once funding contracts and arrangements have been finalised.