Upgrades to facilities and enhancements to community spaces are on the way for Eden-Monaro, with up to $283 million Commonwealth and NSW funding in Local Economic Recovery projects announced this week.
State-wide, 195 bushfire recovery projects have been approved in this round of Bushfire Local Economic Recovery projects in NSW under the Local Economic Recovery program, which is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments. These projects have a focus on drawing people to the region, supporting primary industries to enhance economic and social recovery, create jobs, and improve community resilience for future emergency events.
Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said all 66 projects had been put forward by the community, with funding focused on local solutions to local needs.
“These projects have been identified by the people of Eden-Monaro and will make a big difference locally, creating opportunities to increase tourism, employment and economic recovery, as well as building community cohesion and making us more resilient in times of crisis,” Senator Molan said.
Projects approved in Eden-Monaro include:
| Project | Brief | LGA | Funding |
| Let’s Be Mindful and Mental Health First Aid | Provide mental health first aid training and mindfulness/resilience workshops | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $237,300.00 |
| Revitalise the Cobargo CBD | Repair and replacement of damaged buildings, such as the post office and market hall, and construction of new infrastructure | Bega Valley Shire Council | $9,611,992.00 |
| Create the Bega Showground Community Centre | Create the Bega Showground Community Centre, offering the community a compliant, accessible and inclusive evacuation centre with modern amenities and air conditioning. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $9,794,916.00 |
| Tilba Halls Future Resilience Project | Provide upgrades to heritage listed community owned halls. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $1,048,399.00 |
| Build Delegate Discovery Centre | This project will fund a building to house the Delegate Discovery Centre (DDC), as well as accommodation, contract workers, and emergency personnel. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $686,755.00 |
| Complete stage two of the Mogo Adventure Trails Hub | This project will fund the final stage of the construction of the Mogo Adventure Trails Hub network in the Mogo/Deep Creek Dam area. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $5,000,000.00 |
| Phoenix Community Wellbeing Program | The Phoenix Community Wellbeing Program will empower the Greater Mogo community with powerful tools to boost resilience including producing a book with inspiring, true stories of their recovery from the ashes. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $230,000.00 |
| Fund the Linking Women – Outreach Support Service | The Wagga Women’s Health Centre will provide an outreach counselling and support service to communities affected by the Black Summer bushfires. | Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, Wagga Wagga City Council | $200,775.00 |
| Snowy Valleys Emergency Evacuation Centre and Multipurpose Facility | The project will fund an indoor sports and events facility that has capacity to transform into a state-of-the-art emergency and evacuation centre in the event of a natural disaster or emergency. | Snowy Valleys Council | $10,685,333.00 |
| Develop the Eden Mountain Bike Hub | This project will fund the trailhead (including amenities, signposts and other infrastructure) and up to 60km of mountain biking trails. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $4,524,317.00 |
| Upgrade Tumut Pool (Stage 2) | This project will support the ongoing upgrade of the Tumut Pool, a key piece of local community infrastructure. The upgrades will improve swimming facilities for babies and young children, replacing inadequate facilities with a splash play area and learn-to-swim pool. | Snowy Valleys Council | $900,000.00 |
| Upgrade Batlow Pool | This project will replace the old amenity block; build a wet deck around the toddler pool; and install a ramp into the main pool. It will also replace the baby pool with a splash play area; build a new fence; add shade structures; install plant and storage areas; provide solar blankets; and improve drainage and backflow pipes. | Snowy Valleys Council | $1,750,000.00 |
| Upgrade Khancoban Pool | Provide Khancoban Pool with a modern toilet and amenities; a new fence around the pool; and solar heating to improve the usability of this facility for locals and visitors | Snowy Valleys Council | $660,000.00 |
| ReGrowth: Connect, Create, Perform | ReGrowth is a series of community devised performing arts workshops and public performances that will be held at significant locations, facilitating healing and recovery for young people in the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla LGAs. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council | $998,522.00 |
| Restore habitats and build community resilience in Eurobodalla and Shoalhaven Shires | This project will fund work to implement anti-erosion and sediment measures; control weeds; manage fires; provide training; run workshops; and build land management contract businesses. | Eurobodalla Shire Council, Shoalhaven City Council | $949,840.00 |
| Improve the Four Winds cultural precinct in Barragga Bay, Bermagui | Installation of sprinkler systems, smoke systems, and solar panels that can be used in the event of power outages, the replacement of water tanks and upgrades to improve access to the precinct. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $336,317.00 |
| Reconnect bushland on the Monaro | This project will work with landholders to build islands of bushland across the central Monaro, re-establishing wildlife habitats, supporting biodiversity, re-hydrating the land and providing scenic value. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $278,490.00 |
| Project | Brief | LGA | Funding |
| Positive Futures: A recovery and resilience program | Positive Futures is a recovery program designed to build resilience, mental health and networks for bushfire-affected young people and communities. It will help young people connect to their region, connect with each other, participate in local events, and celebrate their region’s natural endowments. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Shoalhaven City Council | $573,395.00 |
| Provide solar and essential battery backup for the Rural Fire Service | This project involves the installation of solar panels and essential battery storage backup. | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council | $210,000.00 |
| Create the Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre | This project will fund construction of the Cobargo Bushfire Resilience Centre (‘The Centre’), a state-of-the-art facility including an exhibition space, a commemorative courtyard, a theatrette, and an upstairs function space. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $4,896,425.00 |
| Batlow – Project Comeback | This project will deliver new packhouse technology for the Batlow fruit industry, ensuring efficient handling of changes in volumes and greater flexibility to respond to market demands. | Snowy Valleys Council | $2,735,765.00 |
| Tourism Snowy Mountains Bushfire Recovery Program | The Tourism Snowy Mountains Bushfire Recovery Program focuses on achieving recovery from the 2019/20 bushfires, which impacted the local tourism industry and left lasting economic impacts. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $710,000.00 |
| Promote trails in the Southern Tablelands | This digital project will promote walking trails in the Southern Tablelands, enticing visitors to the region. | Goulburn Mulwaree Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council | $360,000.00 |
| South Coast Centre of Excellence | The project will establish a virtual Hospitality and Tourism Centre of Excellence on the NSW South Coast. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Shoalhaven City Council | $995,023.00 |
| Convert the Immaculate Conception Church at Muttama into a community cultural centre | Convert the Muttama Church of Immaculate Conception into a multi-purpose cultural space with adjoining accommodation. | Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council | $982,485.00 |
| Promote the Gourmet Coast Trail | This project will enable the community to implement a marketing strategy, enhance the GCT website’s interactive functionality, and boost membership to a self-sustaining level. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, | $315,000.00 |
| Create adventure playground in Bungendore | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council will create a new adventure-style playground, suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities, in Bungendore. | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council | $895,370.00 |
| Bermagui Preschool Therapy and Counselling Room Project | This project will create a Therapy and Counselling Room and upgrade some of the existing facilities and outdoor areas to support improved delivery of mental health and well-being programs | Bega Valley Shire Council | $476,252.00 |
| Project | Brief | LGA | Funding |
| Community led recovery and regeneration education hub for South East NSW | This project will establish a hub for collaborative and community led recovery and regeneration in South East NSW, based at the Crossing Land Education Centre, Bermagui. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council | $947,803.00 |
| Regenerate: NSW family and relationship counselling | Regenerate’ will provide early intervention mental health support to children and young people aged 8-12 in Eurobodalla through flexible, holistic outreach counselling provided by two full-time clinicians. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $383,133.00 |
| Implement welfare and resilience counselling | This project will establish therapeutic counselling programs for students and local communities in the Wagga Wagga, Greater Hume, Snowy Valleys and Cootamundra-Gundagai Local Government Areas | Snowy Valleys Council, Wagga Wagga City Council | $558,000.00 |
| Establish a Playability inclusion hub | This project will develop an accessible, inclusive, and culturally sensitive play and support hub for local children, particularly Aboriginal children and those living with disabilities. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $1,730,515.00
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| Tathra safer pathways project | This project will upgrade 2.5 kilometres of pathways in Tathra, replace the pedestrian footbridge to the Surf Club, and install solar lighting along the route. Two designated neighbourhood safe places are accessed via these paths | Bega Valley Shire Council | $461,625.00 |
| Anglicare Regional Recovery Program | This project will deliver bushfire recovery and preparedness services in the Bega Valley, Snowy Valleys, Snowy Monaro, and Eurobodalla Local Government Areas. These will include case management, connection to service providers, mental health support, volunteer programs, and social events. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council | $3,475,000.00 |
| Improve streets in Adaminaby | This project will support liveability for the community by improving sealing, curbs, gutters, footpaths, and drainage on local streets. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $812,340.00 |
| Upgrade the Delegate School of Arts Hall | This project will upgrade the Delegate School of Arts Hall to ensure that it continues to play a critical meeting place for the community. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $720,362.00 |
| Upgrade Barclay Street Sportsground | This project will support the usability of Barclay Street Sportsground for the local community by improving the accessibility and emergency preparedness of this key local infrastructure. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $450,000.00 |
| Upgrade Bermagui Indoor Sports Stadium | Deliver multiple upgrades for the Bermagui Indoor Sports Stadium including the repair of the roof, windows, and basketball backboard, kitchen, canteen, changerooms, and toilets, and reseal the stadium floor to enhance it as a community space. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $426,015.00 |
| Bega Valley Shire tourism support program | This project will increase the attractiveness of the Sapphire Coast as a tourist destination through improved marketing and promotion. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $600,000.00 |
| Project | Brief | LGA | Funding |
| Support small businesses in the Bega Valley | The project will support recovering small businesses and encourage new businesses in the Bega Valley. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $300,000.00 |
| Upgrade Jindabyne Sport and Recreation Centre | Construct a pathway and install laser biathlon targets, an administration area, storage space, changerooms, and bathrooms. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $785,150.00 |
| Upgrade community hall and install public amenities at Araluen Campgrounds | This project will upgrade five community halls within a fire-affected area and install an amenities building at the Araluen campgrounds. | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council
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$751,500.00 |
| Support bushfire-affected startups | This project will deliver in-depth business support to 90 of the most promising bushfire-affected startups. This will involve evidence-based training and international networking opportunities. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, | $999,570.00 |
| Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery Program | This program addresses the mental health impacts of the 2019-20 bushfires, addressing developmental vulnerabilities that could place children at risk of long-term adverse outcomes. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, | $3,994,938.00 |
| Upgrade Bombala Sporting Facilities | This project will upgrade the sporting facilities at the Bombala Exhibition Ground. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $796,505.00 |
| Create Bega Aboriginal Community multipurpose workshop | The Bega Aboriginal Community multipurpose workshop will support Aboriginal land management programs. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $766,983.00 |
| Anglicare’s Road to Recovery: Building community capacity and fostering disaster resilience program | This project will focus on hard-to-reach areas and provide individualised case management; the employment of local recovery workers; and community information sessions about post-trauma support. | Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, | $900,974.00 |
| Construction of the Narooma Mountain Bike Trails Hub | This project will construct up to 50km of mountain bike trails and a trailhead as part of the Narooma Mountain Bike Trails Hub. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $3,914,356.00 |
| Support South Coast Youth Volunteering Initiative | Regional Development Australia Far South Coast (RDAFSC) will partner with NSW Rural Fire Service and local high schools to deliver nationally accredited training for up to 300 students. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, | $211,000.00 |
| Fund EcoCrews in Eurobodalla and the Bega Valley | This project will see EcoCrews undertake a range of bushfire recovery activities in collaboration with the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley Shire Councils, as well as the Stepping Stone Farm. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council | $2,071,465.00 |
| The Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail | Along with the Snowy Valleys Council and local community, Sculpture by the Sea will create the Snowy Valleys Sculpture Trail. This 100km trail will snake through the historic towns of Adelong, Batlow, Tumbarumba and Tooma on the Snowy Valleys Way. | Snowy Valleys Council | $4,000,000.00 |
| Adelong’s Swinging Bridge and Surrounds Project | This project will complete the structural work required on Adelong’s Swinging Bridge to allow the bridge to reopen. | Snowy Valleys Council | $411,758.00 |
| Project | Brief | LGA | Funding |
| Blueprint for a Resilient South East NSW | The Blueprint for a Resilient South East NSW project will assist councils and communities in fire-affected areas assess which wellbeing factors are most impacted by disasters in their area. | Bega Valley Shire Council, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council, | $2,780,632.00 |
| Develop skills of forest and timber industry workers in the Snowy Valley | The Snowy Valleys Skills Development program will provide support to forest and timber businesses and workers. This will involve training up to 400 workers to support this crucial local industry and ensure a more sustainable economic future. | Snowy Valleys Council | $1,924,793.00 |
| Refurbish Jindabyne Skate Park | This project will construct the Jindabyne Skate Park, which will be a unique recreational and public open space. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $1,258,380.00 |
| Restoring country, culture and community | This project will include employing rangers; assessing cultural and wildlife sites; a survey of local fauna populations; the installation of nest boxes; community engagement projects; and more. | Eurobodalla Shire Council, | $1,000,000.00 |
| Achieving resilient towns through community-led disaster recovery, preparedness, mitigation and prevention planning | This multi-region project will enhance the resilience of small towns to fires, floods and other emergencies by enhancing preparedness, mitigation, prevention and recovery through practical, community-owned measures | Snowy Valleys Council | $486,930.00
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| Support Landcare in the Riverina Highlands | This proposal will support and expand the existing Riverina Highlands Landcare Nursery and Landcare groups, enriching recovery efforts following the Dunns Road – Green Valley bushfire. | Snowy Valleys Council, Wagga Wagga City Council | $766,000.00 |
| Reconstruct the Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council Office | This project will reconstruct the Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council Office, adding a gallery and cafe. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $2,078,769.00 |
| Infrastructure upgrades at Selwyn Snow Resort | This project will support local tourism year round via an upgrade to Selwyn Snow Resort and the National Park. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council, Snowy Valleys Council | $986,000.00 |
| Revitalise the Cobargo CBD | This multi-faceted project includes the repair and replacement of damaged buildings, such as the post office and market hall, and construction of new infrastructure, including a Village Square building to house the accredited Cobargo Regional Tourist Information Centre; Main Street Upgrades; an innovative co-working facility and a professional wellness hub. | Bega Valley Shire Council | $9,611,992.00 |
| Bombala Arts and Innovation Centre | This project will convert the old Bombala Primary School into a multi-purpose cultural and community venue. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $896,645.00 |
| Muliyaan Cultural and Wildlife Centre | This project will establish Muliyaan Cultural Centre, which will be a repository for cultural objects and information, an education and training centre, and a tourism hub. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $3,268,818.00 |
| Project | Brief | LGA | Funding |
| Supporting tourism infrastructure in Adaminaby | This project will construct parking bays for trucks and long vehicles in Adaminaby town centre, which aims to encourage more tourism visitation to the town. | Snowy Monaro Regional Council | $1,000,000.00 |
| Build resilience through community leadership | The project will foster local leadership through a two-session/eight-day leadership and resilience program for 48 participants in Nambucca and Snowy Valleys. | Nambucca Shire Council, Snowy Valleys Council | $662,260.00
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| Construct the Narooma Arts and Community Centre | This project will fund construction of the Narooma Arts & Community Centre (NACC), which will enhance the School of Arts precinct, creating an inspiring cultural and community hub. | Eurobodalla Shire Council | $7,276,190.00 |
These projects are the latest to be announced as part of a joint investment of more than $500 million in Local Economic Recovery, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments to support locally led bushfire recovery initiatives.
Funding for LER projects is just one of the initiatives supported by the Australian Government’s National Bushfire Recovery Fund. To date, more than $2.3 billion in Australian Government support has been provided to help bushfire affected communities, including $1.6 billion spent so far from the National Bushfire Recovery Fund. Over 80 per cent of the available funding has been used to help communities recover from the 2019-20 bushfires.
Further details of successful local economic recovery projects in New South Wales – and across other states – are available on the National Recovery and Resilience Agency website at http://www.recovery.gov.au/our-community/local-bushfire-recovery-projects
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