Bushfire Recovery

New federal agency established to provide coordinate bushfire recovery and provide information about what measures are being taken, where assistance can be found.

Master Builders has been asked to  government forums providing industry feedback and advice on the recovery effort according to Alex Waldren, Master Builders Australia's National Director, Industry Policy. 

Do you need information on the National bushfire recovery effort or are you a builder interested in providing feedback to this?

For anyone seeking further information, the Australian Government has established a National Bushfire Recovery Agency to coordinate a national response to rebuilding communities affected by bushfires. 

The Agency is overseeing the Government’s $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund that will be delivered over the next two years. Andrew Colvin, former Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police is leading the agency. Funding has been allocated to: 

• Primary producer grants for immediate and urgent recovery needs
• Additional support for small business
• Grants to bushfire affected Local Government Areas
• A mental health package for first responders and communities
• Support to attract tourists back to the regions
• Infrastructure projects to support economic, community and industry recovery and resilience, and
• Support for the environment and native wildlife.

Master Builders is involved in forums with government providing feedback on industry capacity to contribute to recovery efforts and is on the Australian Bushfire Standard Committee.  Should you wish to provide feedback to these forums contact Alex or Max in the National office.

The Bushfire Standard (AS 3959 BAL FZ) for residential buildings was recently updated and is considered best practice.

The follwoing pictures of a home in Rosedale, NSW South Coast, from before and after it was engulfed in the flames of a bushfire that devastated neighbouring propertys, demonstrates the resilience of construction built to this standard.