The Hon Kristy McBain MP
Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories
Federal Member for Eden-Monaro

The Albanese Labor Government is ensuring that communities in Eden-Monaro will be better prepared for future natural disasters, such as bush fires and floods.

Eight organisations and local governments will share in over $2.6 million in funding, under the $29 million Disaster Risk Reduction Fund.

Projects will target capability building, community engagement, preparedness and prevention strategies, and risk mitigation initiatives.

Over 60 projects, including many in regional NSW, will benefit from the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund, which will ensure communities can bounce back quicker after a fire, flood, storm or heatwave.

The projects are jointly funded by the Australian Government and the NSW Government.

A full list of projects is available at: www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/nsw-reconstruction-authority/disaster-risk-reduction-fund/disaster-risk-reduction-fund-local-and-regional-risk-reduction-stream

Quotes attributable to Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, and Member for Eden-Monaro, the Hon Kristy McBain MP:

“Since 2016 there have been 35 declared natural disaster events in the Eden-Monaro, including bushfires, severe storms and floods.

“These events were terrifying for locals and have had a devastating impact on our communities.

“That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has taken deliberate steps to build resilience now, so that when a disaster next hits, communities can bounce back quicker.

“Over $2.6 million in funding will support eight organisations and local governments in Eden-Monaro to improve local infrastructure and develop disaster management plans.

“We know that, unfortunately, disasters will happen again, which is why it’s so important we strengthen our communities’ ability to respond and recover – this funding will do exactly that.”

Eden-Monaro Projects: Total funding: $2,694,799

Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council

• Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council Coastal Cultural Burning and Fire Trail Upgrade and Control Program
• Implement a Cultural Burning and Fire Trail Remediation and Upgrade Program using contemporary Indigenous knowledge to complement bushfire management practices on Bega LALC land
• Project cost: $297,848
• Australian Government funding: $148,924

Eden Community Access Centre Inc.

• Reducing the Risk: Youth-centred Disaster Risk Reduction
• A Youth Coordinator will lead design, delivery and evaluation of targeted initiatives that support young people to identify, manage and reduce disaster risk to themselves and their community
• Project cost:$300,000
• Australian Government funding: $150,000

Snowy Monaro Regional Council

• Snowy Monaro Resilience and Risk Reduction Engagement Program
• Funding of a Community Resilience Officer to deliver a coordinated program of initiatives to support communities to identify natural disaster risks, collaborate to develop placed-based solutions for mitigating impacts and build the capacity for ongoing community-led action
• Project cost: $295,754
• Australian Government funding: $147,877

Yass Valley Council

• Browne Street Yass Storm Water Augmentation and Flood Prevention
• Upgrade of culverts under Browne Street to amend road levels to ensure low point of road is above the road culverts and cater for storm events
• Project cost: $225,000
• Australian Government funding: $112,500

ANU Enterprise Pty Limited

• Bushfire risk-reduction through cultural burning in travelling stock routes
• The Project will use a large cultural burning program to reduce bushfire-risk in travelling stock routes (TSRs) and benefit communities in rural NSW through a diverse collaboration between Local Land Services, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and the Australian National University
• Project cost: $1,500,000
• Australian Government funding: $750,000

Bega Valley Shire Council

• Embedding the Enabling Resilience Investment Approach in Bega Valley to Support Regional Scaling
• The Enabling Resilience Investment (ERI) approach is embedded in Bega Valley Shire Council’s decision-making process through identifying options for resilience across local-government-areas (LGAs) and developing disaster risk reduction investment cases to generate fundable opportunities for communities, business and South-East NSW, focusing on metrics including jobs, social cohesion, productivity, and value creation.
• Project cost: $1,500,000
• Australian Government funding: $750,000

Canberra Region Joint Organisation

• Learn Share Embed: Looking back, moving forward through working together to support development of regional and local resilience strategies building more resilient communities through a systemic state-wide approach.
• Embedding the South East NSW Resilience Blueprint regional report, growing capability and capacity at a local, regional level, and work with JOs to build more risk resilient communities in regional NSW.
• Project cost: $971,860
• Australian Government funding: $485,930

Eurobodalla Shire Council

• Eurobodalla Flood and Bushfire Risk Management Plans
• Funding of a Resilience and Risk Reduction Officer who will focus on building community resilience and preparedness, through the development of a Flood Management Plan for Moruya and a Strategic Bushfire Assessment for Dalmeny.
• Project cost: $299,136
• Australian Government funding: $149,568