Friday 12 June 2020 Laing O’Rourke bushfire cleanup update Webinar to focus on community-led recovery The bushfire cleanup program is underway in the Have you heard the phrase ‘community-led recovery’? Snowy Monaro with machinery crews in the region. Few people understand what this means. Recovery So far, Laing O’Rourke’s progress includes: can be complex, messy, frustrating and exhausting. • 277 calls have been made (including calls to set up In 2009, Steve Pascoe’s community of Strathewen, inspections, respond to queries and to advise of northeast of Melbourne, suffered incredible loss works commencing). through the Black Saturday bushfires. • 140 contacts have been with landowners. Since the 2020 New Year’s fires in Gippsland, Steve • 70 site inspections have been complete. has been mentoring the Mallacoota community to initiate and implement a community led recovery Laing O’Rourke machinery crews are on the ground process. and cleanup works are underway in the areas of Yaouk, Michelago and Jerangle. Australian Red Cross Disaster Recovery Advisors and Mentors Australia (DRAMA) invites you to join Steve The Laing O’Rourke teams are scaling up across the Pascoe as he shares his story in a community webinar region and further teams are planned to commence to be held next week. work in the coming weeks. This includes work in the areas of Creewah and Rockton. This webinar will offer community leaders an insight into the challenges and rewards in leading your The Snowy Monaro Bushfire Recovery Team and Laing community in disaster recovery. O’Rourke are working to contact landholders who are yet to register for the cleanup program. Still not sure The webinar will be held on Tuesday 16 June at if you are registered? Call the Bushfire Recovery Team 10am. Please register here https://zoom.us/webinar/ on 1300 345 345 for assistance. register/WN_rThiKqjESHmvkO5D9CSzqQ What can landholders expect in the clean up? Mayor Beer (left) chats Snowy Monaro Regional Council recently hosted with residents an information webinar focusing on the cleanup at a bushfire program. The webinar can be viewed at the following recovery link. meeting held https://www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au/1578/ earlier this year. Bushfire-recovery-updates For more information please contact Council 24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE 1300 345 345 [email protected] PO Box 714 COOMA NSW 2630 www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au Friday 12 June 2020 Health and wellbeing assistance Survey to help future recovery efforts Amidst the challenges we are facing through Residents who lost a dwelling in the Snowy Monaro prolonged drought conditions, devastating bushfires, region will soon be asked to complete a short survey. floods and now COVID-19, it is worth remembering there is help out there, no matter how you feel. The survey will be emailed to you from Service NSW with a supporting letter from Council. Don’t forget to check in on your friends and neighbours with a friendly phone call and if you or It is expected the survey will take no more than someone you know needs help, reach out. 10 minutes to complete and if you are unable to complete the email survey, a phone survey will The following are free services available 24 hours a follow. day seven days a week: Survey results will be used to assess the recovery Mental Health Line - 1800 011 511 process to date and ensure appropriate services are Lifeline Bushfire Recovery Line - 13 43 57 available to our communities into the future. Mensline - 1300 789 978 In addition, outreach phone calls to our community Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 will continue to be made by the Recovery Team. BeyondBlue - 1300 22 4636 Bushfire recovery updates on 2MNO radio Pictured below: Former Council Director Peter Smith A reminder to tune into Monaro Community Radio talks with Cooma residents at a bushfire meeting held station 2MN0 at 9.25am each Thursday to listen to in Centennial Park. During the bushfire emergency Council’s weekly bushfire recovery update. and now in the recovery phase, it’s important we look out for one another. Each week, the Road to Recovery features interviews with people involved in the bushfire recovery process, updates on grant opportunities, and details for people seeking mental health and wellbeing support. If you miss any edition of the Road to Recovery, previous editions are posted to Council’s website, Facebook page and the Snowy Monaro Bushfire Recovery Facebook group. For more information please contact Council 24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE 1300 345 345 [email protected] PO Box 714 COOMA NSW 2630 www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au Friday 12 June 2020 How will this clean up affect me? Applications extended for Red Cross Grants The cleanup can affect people in different ways. Some Applications will remain open until 31 August 2020 people are happy to see the cleanup commence for the Red Cross Re- Establishment Grant. others may feel a sense of loss and have some memories of the bushfire emerge. Funding through this grant program has been increased to $30,000 for those who have had their If you are feeling overwhelmed and would like some primary residence destroyed and need assistance to support during the cleanup, help is available. Please re-build or re-establish. call the following numbers for support. To apply call 1800 733 276 or visit the following link • 0400 655 918 for the Salvation Army Chaplain’s Michael & Elizabeth Johnson https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/emergencies/ • 0499 303 516 for Australian Red Cross, Bushfire recovering-from-emergencies/emergency-grant- Recovery application • 1300 345 345 and ask for the Recovery Team Drought Community Support Initiative - $3000 one-off payment for affected households The Salvation Army is working with the St Vincent To apply, please visit - https://www.salvationarmy. de Paul Society to deliver the Drought Community org.au/need-help/rural-support/drought-community- Support Initiative (DCSI) for eligible drought-affected support-initiative/ households. The online application process is quick and simple. If you’re a farmer, farm worker or farm supplier/ contractor who is struggling financially because of Don’t forget the Salvation Army Rural Chaplains can the drought, you may be entitled to receive a one-off visit you and provide emotional, spiritual and/or payment of up to $3,000. physical help. This is funded through the Australian Government’s From practical support on the farm, to sitting down for Drought Community Support Initiative Round 2 (DCSI). a cuppa and a chat, you can call 0400 655 918 to chat with Salvation Army Chaplains Michael and Elizabeth Johnson. For more information please contact Council 24/7 CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE 1300 345 345 [email protected] PO Box 714 COOMA NSW 2630 www.snowymonaro.nsw.gov.au.