Skip to content

Bushfire recovery

web eucalyptus marginataBushfire burns through a forest on the outskirts of Labertouche. Image: Sydney Morning HeraldBuxton pioneer settlement homestead, 16 Feb 2009. Image: Jeanie HurreyBrenda Creed cradles her jack russell in a bushfire relief shelter at Yea. Wildlife, livestock and pets suffered the bushfires' ferocity. Image: AAP Julian Smith [ABC]

Victoria bushfires: the next steps

Tim and Rachael Calkin survery their burnt farm at Long Gully near Healesville. Photo: Angela Wylie / Sydney Morning HeraldSLOW Food Australia is working with the Victorian Reconstruction and Recovery Authority to provide practical support to local communities affected by the disastrous 2009 Black Saturday [07-08 Feb] bushfires in rural Victoria. Slow Food Australia board member Leonie Furber says the authority, headed by former Victoria Police commissioner Christine Nixon, is in the best position to guide Slow Food in Australia about the actions it can take to provide ‘grassroots’ assistance. Several Slow Food convivia are active in affected areas – North Eastern Victoria, Yarra Ranges and Mount Dandenong, Yarra Valley and Healesville, and West Gippsland. Many small producers in the Slow Food ‘family’ were affected.

Recovery Authority co-ordinator Nick Handbury is matching offers received with the needs of affected communities. ‘The affected communities are themselves developing the recovery plans – which cover economic and business assistance, social, built environment and infrastructure, and the natural environment.’ Furber says. ‘The connection with Slow Food Australia falls into the social area where there will be the most positive impact considering our offer of assistance. Once the consultation process takes place at community level, we will be advised by these communities how we can help.’

Counting the loss

  • Recovery plan cost $193 million
  • Area burnt 450,000 hectares
  • Lives lost 173
  • People injured 414
  • Houses and structures destroyed 3500
  • Pasture destroyed 168,000 hectares
  • Fodder and hay destroyed 236,000 tonnes
  • Fruit trees, olives and vineyards destroyed 735 hectares
  • Fencing destroyed 10,000 kilometres
  • Livestock killed and injured 11,000
  • Local parks destroyed 950
  • National parks and reserves destroyed 70
  • Cultural and historic places destroyed 600

More information