FUNDING WELCOME BUT LET’S SEE THE DETAIL

Federal Member for Macquarie, Susan Templeman, has welcomed funding for bushfire-hit communities, but said detail of what could be available for the local community was thin on the ground.

Figures released today via a Senate Question on Notice revealed the Government has paid out less than $260 million from its $2 billion National Bushfire Recovery Fund, announced in January.

Some of the Government’s most hyped funding pledges - including mental health assistance for schools and rural financial counselling - are yet to receive a single dollar.

Meanwhile the Minister responsible was out spruiking yet another marketing announcement yesterday, by re-announcing the same money without actually delivering anything to bushfire affected communities, Ms Templeman said.

“We welcome any funding flowing to communities, nearly six months after the fires first hit, but we await the detail of what will be made available to the Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains,” she said.

“I look forward to understanding what percentage of the funds for satellite phones, batteries and solar panels will come to our region, which faced major issues around phone connectivity throughout the fires.

“We also have the largest area of World Heritage impacted by the fires, and I would expect to see a significant amount of the funding for on-ground action to protect native species and regenerate habitat be allocated to this area.

“The local tourism sector is already seeing the Bushfire Recovery program as potentially presenting opportunities to revisit projects like a new tourist centre on the Bells Line of Road side, and optio