Mangrove Mountain Flora Reserve has been allocated more funding from the National Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program than any other Central Coast entity.
$600,000 of a total, state-wide $10M fund has been awarded to the applicant, Mangrove Mountain Flora Reserve, for ‘Community Emergency Communications Enhancement’.
Some way behind Mangrove Mountain was Central Coast Council for water and sewer bushfire management planning ($381,000); Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council for fire trail construction ($220,261) and the Pearl Beach Community Support Centre that received $91,630.
In total, $1.5M has been directly earmarked for the Coast.
Other recipients included the Australia Walkabout Wildlife Park for a fire trail upgrade ($57,620); disability access for Wyong Creek Literary Institute ($174,500) and River Cares Incorporated to help build community resilience and bushfire preparedness ($21,200).
The Coast is also listed in state-wide grants given to the Australian Red Cross Society for a bushfire recovery program ($7.2M); the Emergency Service’s Volunteers Association for a first responder program ($463,900) and Mackillop Family Services to build “community capacity and resilience to respond and recover” ($240,507).
Senator for New South Wales (and Coalition Duty Senator for the Labor Seat of Dobell) Jim Molan said the program was backing projects which the affected communities said would best support their ongoing recovery.
“It was important that we funded projects based on need and merit and which offered a lasting and tangible impact, tailored to local needs and conditions. The quality of the projects funded shows that our ‘locally led’ approach works,” said Molan.
Nicola Riches