$1.6 million in funding under Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant

Published on 01 September 2021

Photo of HNECC Primary Health Network’s Scott Wood, Council’s Melissa Boucher, President Wollombi Valley Progress Association’s Simone Smith and Wollombi Valley Progress Association’s Daniela Riccio.

Over the past 18 months, Cessnock City Council has been successful in obtaining government funding and other grants to support local bushfire and flood recovery activities and initiatives. Large portions have been directed to fixing roads and bridges impacted by bushfires and floods, as well as to tourism projects to support bringing more visitors to the region.

Other grants have funded projects that improve the preparedness of our bushfire impacted communities. This has included risk mitigation upgrades to community halls in Laguna and Wollombi, improving road and property signs to assist with navigation of emergency vehicles, and upskilling our residents in First Aid and chainsaw use.

The National Resilience and Recovery Agency (NRRA) is providing another opportunity for the Cessnock Local Government Area (LGA) to benefit from up to $1.6 million in grant funding for projects that: 

  • Support recovery and resilience of our communities.
  • Build stronger communities by supporting social, economic and built environment recovery.
  • Empower local communities to address bushfire recovery priorities, including through the creation of jobs, sustainable infrastructure and community investment targeted at the specific needs of the community.
  • Rebuilding and growing the economy of the local communities impacted by the bushfires.

Grants are available for a minimum of $20,000 and applications have been extended to 6 Wednesday October 2021. Council’s worked closely with bushfire impacted community organisations to assist them to obtain grant funding and is encouraging groups to get in touch with Community Recovery Officer, Melissa Boucher about the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants.

Past projects Council has successfully worked on include Wollombi School Community Education Trust. The group secured funding to support community connection activities such as craft mornings, the local choir, and a community garden, as well as essential upgrade works to their community facility. Council has also been working closely with local Rural Fire Service Brigades to obtain funding for projects within their communities.

For more information about this grant and how to apply, please visit Black Summer Bushfire Grants website.

To discuss potential projects please contact Melissa Boucher on Melissa.boucher@cessnock.nsw.gov.au or call 02 4993 4257.

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