24 Feb 2022

Mayo projects backed by bushfire recovery fund │ Adelaide Hills Herald

By ALEXANDRA BULL

The federal government has provided $9,169,165 of funding to local community projects across the Mayo community as part of the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program.

Carrying out road safety works in Cuddlee Creek and rebuilding community infrastructure are among the 16 projects funded in the Mayo region.

Senator for South Australia Andrew McLachlan said the overall program funding was boosted from $110 million to $390 million to further support communities around Australia to recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.

"As part of the now $2.2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program is backing projects which affected communities have said will best support their ongoing recovery," Senator McLachlan said.

"The grants will fund a broad range of recovery and resilience projects, from social and community wellbeing right through to projects that support local jobs, small businesses and infrastructure." Some of these projects in the Adelaide Hills include Building Back More Sustainable Vineyards, protecting farms from fuel load and water loss, the Adelaide Hills Sparkling Spring Project and the Lenswood Park Court redevelopment.

"It was important that we funded projects based on local needs and which offered the greatest impact for our recovering communities," Andrew said.

"The impacts of the devastating Black Summer bushfires are still being felt in the Adelaide Hills and these grants will directly assist affected communities.

"I know first-hand from my volunteer work with Disaster Relief Australia in the Adelaide Hills that there are still many families hard at work rebuilding their lives and businesses.

"They must continue to be cared for and assisted by us all."