Singleton Bushfire Rebuild Given a Boost with $1.2 million

Singleton is set to benefit from $1.2 million in funding from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, which will ease the burden of bushfire cleanup in the community.

At least $100 thousand will be allocated to the Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Alliance, after the sector lost roughly $122 million in the wake of the fires.

The remainder of the funds will go towards a range of projects aimed at getting Singleton's visitor economy back on its feet, as well as upgrades to infrastructure and subsidies for rate payers.

Council’s General Manager, Jason Linnane, said the funding allows the region to get back to rebuilding following the disaster.

"We know that getting this grant funding on the ground is absolutely vital for our community’s capacity to recover from these devastating bushfires,” he said.

“That’s why Singleton Council has decided on a course of action that will most benefit our community. This funding will dramatically increase Council’s ability to deliver timely projects to support local business and industry recovery, community resilience and overall well-being.”

Singleton Council says it will continue to push for more recovery funding to assist in the ongoing rebuild effort.

Council’s funding allocation from the National Bushfire Recovery Agency grant in Singleton is as follows:

Organisation/ project description	Funding allocation
Hunter Valley Wine and Tourism Alliance - Destination Marketing Program	$100,000
Broke Fordwich Wine Tourism Association – Tourism Marketing Program	$50,000
The Brokenback Trail Association Incorporated – Around Hermitage Tourism Marketing Program	$50,000
Singleton Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders – Economic Development Programs	$125,000
Singleton Council – Social Work Programs in partnership with local community organisations	$125,000
Singleton Council – Paynes Crossing Bridge replacement in conjunction with Cessnock City Council	$200,000
Ratepayer assistance subsidy towards rates for affected properties in line with Council’s adopted Hardship Policy	$180,000
Hunter Valley District NSW Rural Fire Service – Support and asset provision/management	$100,000
Singleton Council – Investigation and design for replacement of Putty Valley Road Bridge/Culvert	$70,000
Singleton Council and Non-Council Managed Community Facilities upgrades	$225,000

Ausgrid Checks For Bushfire Risks

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Ausgrid is using a specialist helicopter to survey major powerlines and locate hotspots on the network.

Infrared cameras will help identify potential defects in the system which could pose a bushfire risk, with this year's fire danger period already in place.

You might spot the chopper flying around the Hunter from today (Tuesday 4th September) through to Thursday 6th from 7:30am til 5pm.

Ausgrid Engineering Officer Scott Wedesweiler said the operation covers over 150 kilometres of powerlines.

"We travel from Mt Colah up through the Central Coast, all the way up to the Hunter region - we patrol at a low altitude looking for hotspots," he explained.

Mr Wedesweiler said residents should take precautions so pets and livestock don't get scared.

"The chopper will fly pretty much the height of the powerlines," he said, "and for landowners that have livestock, we'd prefer them to house the animals so they don't get spooked by the noise."

Crews are taking to the skies in areas like Toronto, West Wallsend, Heddon Greta and Killingworth.

Thermal imaging as it appears on the infrared camera. 

Cessnock to benefit from Commonwealth disaster relief

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Regional NSW communities affected by bush fires will now be eligible to receive support from the federal government under new Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

It comes following the September 13 bush fires which devastated the Cessnock region.

Cessnock is listed as one of five Local Government Areas eligible to receive assistance, with fires at Kempsey, Shoalhaven, Mid North Coast and Port Macquarie also attracting the help of the Commonwealth under the scheme.

Through cash grants to local councils, affected residents and businesses will receive support in clean-up and restoration efforts.

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, says "Assistance may also include things like helping eligible people whose homes and belongings have been damaged; concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, farmers and non-profits and freight subsidies for farmers."

The Minister says grants are additionally available for eligible non-profits; potentially giving aid to organisations like the Richmond Vale Railway Museum, which sustained damage in excess of $1 million during the September fires.

"It's not capped funding," Minister Keenan explains, "We provide the assistance as is required. So if you, as an individual, business or organisation meet the criteria, we will provide access to that assistance."

An application process exists to secure the Commonwealth assistance, but the Minister believes it's easy to complete- "We try to keep it as simple as possible, we don't want people to be tied-up in bureaucracy and red tape."

For more information on the application process go to the Australian Government's Disaster Assist or the NSW Government's Emergency Information and Response website.

Federal Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan. Image: SBS. 

Firefighters work to contain the blaze at Richmond Vale, September 2017. Image: ABC.