Canberra region to receive $12.5 million for bushfire recovery projects

Tharwa Community Hall is set for an upgrade. Photo: Halls for Hire.

Youth development organisation Outward Bound and the Tharwa Community Association will benefit from bushfire recovery projects announced by the Federal Government.

The Canberra region will receive a total of $12.5 million from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund (NBRF).

ACT Liberal Senator Zed Seselja said $9.6 million would go towards projects in the ACT, and a further $2.9 million towards projects across the Territory and the region more broadly.

He said $440,000 would go towards repairs to the Orroral Road crossing and improvements that will allow the crossing to reopen and remain accessible during emergencies.

“From programs focused on recovery and resilience, funding to improve the Orroral Road crossing, or assistance for Outward Bound as they rebuild, the Liberal-National Government is supporting the Canberra community through the long journey of bushfire recovery,” he said.

“Many Canberrans have fond memories of Outward Bound throughout their high school years. Through this funding, Outward Bound will transform and equip four old farm sheds into bushcraft workshops, enabling the delivery of more skill-building programs to schools, young people and community groups.”

Senator Seselja said the Tharwa Community Association would repair and upgrade the Tharwa Hall in the ACT’s far south, and the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation would work with the ACT Rural Fire Service to deliver leadership programs.

“Funding will also be delivered to the ACT Government to deliver recovery and resilience projects, and to the University of New South Wales to conduct research into best practice construction standards to mitigate the impacts of ember storms during bushfires,” he said.

Senator Seselja also announced a $50,000 grant had been awarded to local landowners to help them care for the Murrumbidgee River near Tuggeranong, under the $20 million Murray-Darling Healthy Rivers Program.

“A healthy Murrumbidgee is critical to the health of the ACT’s environment, and the Basin as a whole, so it’s exciting to see Canberrans stepping up,” Senator Seselja said.

“This grant will allow landholders to repair erosion damage caused by recent floods along a stretch of the Murrumbidgee River. They will undertake earthworks to stabilise gully soil, install wildlife-friendly stock exclusion fencing, and involve a local school in planting native species to restore riparian vegetation.”