The Bundaberg region is one of 23 regions in Queensland that have been chosen for a $1.8 million Queensland Bushfires Round One recovery package, being jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments.
Small grants of $2,500 up to $50,000 and large grants of $50,001 up to $100,000 are available for eligible community groups, non-government organisations, peak and industry bodies and research bodies delivering in or to bushfire-impacted local government areas, including the Bundaberg region.
Successful projects will receive one-off, non-recurrent funding to implement projects aimed at driving recovery, as well as building awareness and resilience.
Projects should preferably involve partnerships with local government, and other organisations and/or groups.
Council’s Disaster Management Portfolio spokesperson, Cr Greg Barnes, encouraged community groups and organisations to look at the criteria and apply if they are eligible.
“This funding is designed to reduce future risks, minimise negative impacts and embrace opportunities and create resilience,” Cr Barnes said.
“It’s about promoting connectedness, encouraging support networks and social inclusion and supporting and promoting opportunities for sustainable economic recovery.
“I’m sure there are many groups and organisations in our region who could make a tremendous impact with projects made possible by this funding.”
Eligible initiatives for bushfires recovery package
Eligible initiatives could include (but are not limited to):
• small projects that facilitate community capacity and resilience building and assist communities to understand risk and how to be better prepared for hazards in the future
• neighbourhood and community strengthening activities that focus specifically on capacity building for future bushfire preparedness
• workshops or education/information sessions on issues such as insurance awareness, seasonal preparation, disaster proofing homes and developing bushfire plans
• establishing regional disaster resilience planning networks involving local governments and key stakeholders such as industry and peak bodies, community and health service providers, chamber of commerce and emergency service agencies
• developing knowledge and skills across local governments and communities to improve recovery outcomes, and future disaster risk reduction and resilience
• focused recovery support services for impacted small businesses and primary producers, which will include business advisors and mentoring
• community group forums could provide access to individual support for recovery services, grants, insurance, business financial counselling, advice/and or mentoring Grants
• delivering community training and skills development, such as psychological first aid training or small business continuity/contingency planning or peer support networks to assist vulnerable community members or businesses to survive in the short to medium term
• establishing and building resilience in collaboration with other key disaster management stakeholders
• commemorative and reflective gardens or public memorials
• community events and other community arts, sporting and cultural projects
• opportunities to support the community to reconnect, and
• projects that can demonstrate how they contribute to the objectives outlined in event specific Recovery Plans or LGA Recovery and Resilience Plans.
Projects to be relevant to specific groups
Targeted projects should be relevant to specific groups including:
• children and families
• young people
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
• culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
• people with disability
• seniors
• small businesses
• primary producers
• service providers.
Applications close 2 pm, Wednesday 3 June 2020.
More information on the Queensland Bushfires Round One recovery packages are available on the website, including links to the application forms via SmartyGrants.
You can find out more here.
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