The communities of Tinonee, Burrell Creek and Rainbow Flat will benefit from funding from the NSW Nationals in the federal government to upgrade RFS sheds and evacuation centres, or build a new community evacuation centre.
Federal Nationals Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie has announced funding under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program to support local communities to continue rebuilding after the 2019-20 bushfires and prepare for any future event.
“We know it’s taking time to recover – and this program offers important further support for our local communities,” Dr Gillespie said. “The funding, in many cases, is delivering upgrades to the main local evacuation centre or fire shed.
“In the case of Tinonee, the RFS Brigade has 50 local volunteer members and will use the funds to add a third bay onto its fire shed to house its two fire trucks and equipment. This is a brigade that works tirelessly for the local community and in close concert with Burrell Creek.
“Before the 2019 bushfires, Tinonee brigade members visited around 5,000 homes across the district to help prepare them for any fire emergency. What an outstanding effort,” Dr Gillespie said.
Dr Gillespie said Rainbow Flat residents, on the other side of the highway, were preparing to build an entirely new community hall and evacuation centre with $742,125 of Federal funding.
“I am proud to be announcing support for these great local communities, who went through a devastating fire season and have seen more tough times recently.”
• Tinonee Rural Fire Service $40,485 – RFS shed extension to facilitate speedier responses to emergencies.
• Burrell Creek Hall $77,421 – new information hub at Burrell Creek Hall to provide communication networks, resourcing and community preparedness training for around 550 rural households.
• Rainbow Flat $742,125 – new community hall. With no available hall, on the evening of 8 November 2019, residents were forced to seek shelter at the local petrol station, along with 23 Rural Fire Service vehicles engaged in property defence during the Hillville fire.
