WOOROLOO BUSHFIRE RECOVERY NEWSLETTER JULY 2021 THE STATE RECOVERY COORDINATION GROUP Contents HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED TO COORDINATE • Introduction 1 EFFORTS TO HELP ALL RESIDENTS AFFECTED BY • Message from the State THE WOOROLOO BUSHFIRE OF FEBRUARY 2021. Recovery Controller 2 • On the ground support 2 Led by State Recovery Controller Dr Ron Edwards and supported by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, the group includes • Complex clean-up 3 representatives from State Government departments, the City of Swan, the Shire of Mundaring, and not-for-profit groups. The intent of the group is to • Operation woods 3 work together to support fire-affected residents through the recovery process. • Financial assistance 4 Eighty-six homes in the City of Swan and Shire of Mundaring were destroyed in the fire and many more properties were damaged, while essential services • Lesson in recovery 4 were disrupted and social networks affected, leaving many people in need of support. The recovery effort includes the physical clean-up of fire-impacted properties and the removal of rubble, the provision of emergency and ongoing accommodation to residents who have lost their homes and possessions, and the directing of financial relief. It also involves connecting people with other services to help with their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing in the months ahead. All levels of government, not-for-profit groups and the Western Australian community have committed considerable resources to the clean-up and rebuilding effort. The State Recovery Coordination Group will ensure these resources are well-utilised and affected residents get what they need to start the long recovery process. To find out how you can access support services, please visit the City of Swan, the Shire of Mundaring, or call the Disaster Response Hotline on 1800 032 965. If you have any feedback or content ideas please contact [email protected] MESSAGE FROM THE STATE RECOVERY CONTROLLER, DR RON EDWARDS Right across the Western Australian community, the response to the Wooroloo bushfire disaster has been ON THE GROUND rapid, whole-hearted and inspiring. SUPPORT We have seen government Jo said this was a critical part of the agencies at all levels, not-for-profit The Department of Communities process of meeting those affected by groups and local volunteers come (DoC) Bushfire Recovery team have the fire and building relationships. “I together to deal with losses in the been on the ground in Gidgegannup was able to let people know about the immediate aftermath of the fire, from the early days of the Wooroloo services available to them, including and to collaborate effectively in bushfire’s aftermath. financial support and temporary on- the important recovery efforts. We Immediately following the fire, many site accommodation options,” Jo said. have also seen people from across affected people found themselves The third member of the DoC team, the community digging deep and with limited options and were either donating generously. Bushfire Recovery Coordinator living rough on their properties Steph Williams, spent time in the Rebuilding lives and assets will or staying with friends or family recovery centre working directly with be a long, tough journey for those while waiting for emergency bushfire-impacted people, as well affected. I know Western Australians accommodation and relief money to as representing the department at a are resilient, but people who have become available. planning level to manage the recovery lost so much will need all the support The small team of DoC Liaison effort. they can get. Officers were stationed at the The team have been working My message to people in the Bushfire Recovery Centre at Percy closely with the City of Swan, Wooroloo and Gidgegannup Cullen Oval in Gidgegannup to provide the Shire of Mundaring, not-for- communities is that you are not a point of contact for people seeking profit organisations, charities and alone. The people of Western to access services or simply in need volunteers to link people to the goods Australia will be with you all the way. of a chat and some moral support. and services they need, including for The City of Swan and Shire of their psychological wellbeing. “We Mundaring have already put in aim to get the message out that we a lot of hard work to help these are here to help people who need communities get back on their feet different types of welfare services,” and this process will continue for as Ioannis said. “Our work has been all long as there is a need. about establishing a rapport with people and building relationships so As State Recovery Controller, I am people are comfortable with us if they committed to ensuring a cooperative, need to talk about delicate issues.” whole-of-government response, working with State and local Ioannis and Jo The team are still on site five agencies to ease the burden on those days a week at the City of Swan’s impacted by the bushfire. DoC Community Resilience Liaison Gidgegannup office on Toodyay Road and one day a week at the I want to reinforce that the recovery Officer Ioannis Dimopoulos said their team worked with people right Wooroloo Hall to maintain contact is community-led. We are here to with the affected communities help any way we can, but we will be from the start to get them back on their feet. His fellow Liaison Officer and make it convenient for people guided by what people need at to contact them. They are also each step of the process. Jo Reimers spent the early part of the recovery process visiting each available to answer any queries via I would like to thank Western affected property with Department of [email protected] Australians for their generosity Water and Environmental Regulation towards those affected by the staff and representatives from GHD, Wooroloo bushfire and commend the company contracted to manage everyone involved in the recovery for the residential clean-up program. their efforts so far. WOOROLOO RECOVERY NEWSLETTER // JULY 2021 There are 137 properties registered the ongoing patience and support of for the Wooroloo Bushfire affected residents.” Coordinated Residential Clean- Residents whose homes have been up Program, which is overseen destroyed or damaged are eligible for by the Department of Water and this program whether or not they are Environmental Regulation (DWER), insured. in collaboration with the City of Swan, the Shire of Mundaring and Experience from previous significant Department of Fire and Emergency bushfires has shown a State-led Services (DFES). residential clean-up program delivers better outcomes for affected Three contracts have been awarded residents, including reduced risk to carry out the works. Environmental of cross-site hazardous waste contractor GHD is managing the site contamination and residential blocks planning meetings and environmental being restored in a coordinated and testing processes, while McMahon effective way. Services have been engaged for the demolition and debris removal, The clean-up program is jointly and asbestos removal specialists funded through the Commonwealth- Thuroona Services will focus on State Disaster Recovery Funding removing asbestos-containing Arrangements, and forms part of materials. a broader $18.1 million community recovery package. DWER’s Director Operations, A COMPLEX Compliance and Enforcement Registered residents seeking Shaun Hodges said each property information about site planning CLEAN-UP poses unique logistical clean-up meetings or the works schedule for their properties can contact The complex work of clearing rubble challenges. “Properties with asbestos, 1800 328 997. and debris from the sites of bushfire those waiting for temporary on-site accommodation and those in low- damaged and destroyed homes is Weekly progress updates, facts lying areas have been given priority continuing, providing the safe removal sheets and FAQs are published at: for clean-up,” Shaun said. “The road of waste to enable community wa.gov.au/wooroloobushfirecleanup members to rebuild on residential to recovery is a long process and the blocks. clean-up program partners appreciate Ron Edwards said the contribution “Throughout the week we helped OPERATION WOODS provided by DRA was invaluable. “The dozens of homeowners,” Bec said. Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) DRA volunteers generously gave up “For some we were felling burnt and unites the skills and experience of their own time to help community dangerous trees to help them regain military veterans with emergency members in need,” Dr Edwards said. access to their property, for others service specialists to rapidly deploy “In the aftermath of this devastating we were rolling up damaged fences. disaster relief teams in Australia and bushfire, they were there on the We cleared house and shed debris, around the world the wake of natural ground to help people take their first and we sifted ashes to search for disasters. DRA conducted bushfire steps towards recovery.” jewellery, war medals and treasures. recovery operations, named Operation “Regardless of the job we did, the Bec Talbot, who grew up in the Perth Woods, in the Perth Hills around the same feeling was felt by the Strike Hills, was a dedicated first-time City of Swan and Shire of Mundaring. Teams: to be able to help these volunteer with DRA for the Wooroloo Commencing on the 24 February residents through their time of crisis bushfire recovery. She spent a week 2021 and continuing over eight weeks and devastation was such a privilege.” on the ground with the DRA Strike until the 24 April 2021, Operation Teams and enjoyed the sense of * Content sourced from an original article by Woods was DRA’s first major accomplishment and camaraderie DRA’s Wayne O’Brien. operation in Western Australia and from their work. DRA’s largest operation to date with 219 volunteers deployed from every State and Territory across Australia.