Bushfire Recovery Shoalhaven

This page aims to support our community through the recovery phase of the impacts from the recent bushfires and to prepare us for the next emergency/bushfire season.

If you have been affected, there is a range of assistance for you. Council is working in partnership with emergency services, State and Federal government agencies, charities and others to deliver this assistance.

For detailed information about the assistance available refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and Important Links on this webpage.

You can call Council's 4429 5888 helpline dedicated to bushfire recovery assistance, during business hours.

Recovery services can also be accessed through Service NSW on 13 77 88 from 7am to 7pm every day or online at www.service.nsw.gov.au for locations of Service NSW, and Mobile Service Centres. If you'd prefer, you can contact an agency directly.

Clean up: Register now
Insured and uninsured residential and eligible commercial property owners must register at www.service.nsw.gov.au or call 13 77 88 to be included in the government-supported clean up program.

Updated 22 October 2020

This page aims to support our community through the recovery phase of the impacts from the recent bushfires and to prepare us for the next emergency/bushfire season.

For detailed information about the assistance available refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and Important Links on this webpage.

You can call Council's 4429 5888 helpline dedicated to bushfire recovery assistance, during business hours.

Updated 22 October 2020

Small Business Bushfire OR COVID Counselling

22 Oct 2020
22 October 2020
Financial Counselling Australia are here to help small businesses help businesses affected by bushfires OR COVID-19 shutdowns.
Financial counsellors are the first port of call for a small business owner experiencing financial difficulty.
Financial counselling is a free service and financial counsellors on the Support Line can help any small business owner.
Sole traders and small business owners commonly have their business and personal finances intermingled. When a crisis hits, both the business and personal assets may be at risk.
What to expect when you call a small business financial counsellor?
Practical advice is available on:
- government grants
- how to dispute debts
- how to negotiate repayment arrangements:
  - on tax debts
  - on leases
  - on utility bills
  - with suppliers
  - on any other business debt
- if you are thinking about closing your business.
Financial counsellors will take the time to get a thorough understanding of your situation. They will talk you through your options and what assistance is available.
They are trained counsellors, so they will also offer emotional support.
Please circulate this information through your networks.
For more information call 1800 413 828 or visit the website at www.smallbusinessbushfire.org.au.
Community Resilience Community Sessions

16 Oct 2020

Come along to an information session and hear from presenters across a range of topics, to assist our community in recovery and resilience.
The following Community Resilience Community Sessions are coordinated by Service NSW.
Locations
Where: Kangaroo Valley
RFS, 5 Broughton St, Kangaroo Valley
When: 20 October 2020
Where: Wandandian
RFS, Princes Hwy, Wandandian
When: 27 October 2020
Where: West Nowra - RFS
92 Albatross Rd, Nowra
When: 3 November 2020

Where: Cambewarra Village
1021 Illaroo Rd Tapitallee
When: 10 November 2020
Where: Sussex Inlet
Bendigo Bank community rooms,
4/168 Jacobs Drive, Sussex Inlet
When: 17 November 2020
Bookings are not required and COVID-19 safety measures will be in place.
Session Agenda
10:00am-11:00am Fire Preparedness/Recovery - Red Cross
11:30am-12:30pm Early Childhood/Youth Support – Bushfire Response - Be You Early Childhood Australia
1:00pm-2:00pm Land Management - Local Land Services
2:30pm-3:30pm Mind, Body, Spirit - Catholic Care
4:00pm-5:00pm Financial Management - Womens Health Service
5:30pm-6:30pm Building/Compliance - Shoalhaven City Council
For further information please contact Natalie Galea, Service NSW 0448 556 429 or Natalie.Galea@service.nsw.gov.au.
Free Solar Panel Systems for Community Groups

14 Oct 2020

REConstruct is offering premium solar panel systems to local community groups (schools, sporting hubs etc.) impacted by the summer bushfires.
The complete systems are supplied and fully installed free of charge. Applicants don't need to have had a building destroyed in the fires to qualify. REConstruct recognise that communities have been impacted in so many different ways by these devasting fires.
Applications for the REConstruct program will be accepted until 31 December 2020. The program aims to allocate all systems by end-2020, with installation to occur as soon as practicably possible. (where new buildings are being constructed, timelines will likely slip into 2021).
About 50 systems are available by via this link reconstruct.net.au
Bushfire Recovery Hubs - October 2020

28 Sep 2020

A range of service providers will be available to provide bushfire recovery information and advice for you and your community in the following locations.
Where: Kioloa
Kioloa RFS
When: Thursday 8 October
Time: 3pm to 6pm
Where: Bendalong
Manyana RFS
When: Thursday 15 October
Time: 2pm to 5pm
Where: Tabourie
Tabourie RFS
When: Thursday 22 October
Time: 12pm to 3pm
Where: Depot Beach
Depot Beach RFS
When: Tuesday 27 October
Time: 12pm to 3pm
Where: Morton
Cnr of Ridge Road and Woolburn Road
Covered bus stop area
When: Thursday 29 October
Time: 2pm to 4pm
There will be a free sausage sizzle at some locations with COVID-19 safe measures in place.
For more information please contact the Bushfire Hotline on 4429 5888.
Mobile Service Centres - October 2020

28 Sep 2020
Service NSW Bringing Services to your Community
Service NSW are visiting bushfire-affected communities, helping people replace lost or damaged documents free of charge.
Where: St Georges Basin
The Country Club, Links Avenue Sanctuary Point
When: Thursday, 8 October 2020
Time: 10:00am to 3:00pm
Where: Sussex Inlet
Neighbourhood Information Centre
Corner Jacobs Drive & Neilson Street, Sussex Inlet
When: Friday, 9 October 2020
Time: 9:00am to 12:00pm
Service NSW’s Mobile Service Centres offer similar services to their physical sites including:
- Driver licence, photo card applications and renewals
- Driver Knowledge Tests
- Working With Children Check applications
- Applying for birth, death and marriage certificates
- Cost of Living service to access more than 70 government rebates and savings.
They can also help you access a range of government support services and initiatives.
Those requiring emergency assistance such as food, water or shelter should contact the Disaster Welfare Assistance Line on 1800 018 444.
For more information on the services available visit Bushfire customer care service.
For more information on the Mobile Service Centres, including what documents you need to take with you, visit service.nsw.gov.au/msc.
Vinnies Bushfire Community Recovery Grants - Stage Two

22 Sep 2020
Stage two of the Vinnies Bushfire Community Recovery Grants program is now open and offers grants of up to $20,000.
The grants are available for community agencies, associations, sporting and religious groups that assist people in bushfire-affected areas.
For more information and to help you promote the grants, various products have been developed, including a poster and the application form.
- ‘Bushfire Community Grants A4 Poster’ and ‘Bushfire Community Grants DLFlyer’ advertise the program and provide a web address where prospective applicants can obtain further information, documentation and Vinnies contacts;
- ‘Application Form’ is the form applicants must complete in order to be considered for a grant and submitted to communitygrants@vinnies.org.au
- ‘Grant Program Workflow MAVS’ sets out the procedure for applying and assessing applications;
- ‘Terms and Conditions’ explains the eligibility criteria and what the grant money must be used for; and
- ‘Timeline’ sets out the timeframe for Stage 2 applications.
Applications close on Sunday 11 October 2020.
Please contact Philip Riordan, Member and Community Engagement Coordinator (South Region) for more information on Philip.Riordan@vinnies.org.au or (02) 4627 9299.
Be prepared: how to stay connected during disaster season

18 Sep 2020

Use the links below to access Telstra's latest bushfire preparedness information.
Telstra News Exchange
Telstra Twitter
Is Your Property Bushfire Ready?

14 Sep 2020

Is your property prepared for this bush fire season?

With the bushfire season starting on 1 September 2020, now is the time to get your property prepared. The three garden waste disposal and two free household waste disposal vouchers issued to all ratepayers will help you to reduce the fuel load and prepare your property. Don't forget to use the vouchers before they expire on 30 September 2020.

Have a look what you can do around the garden, including keeping lawns and gardens well maintained; cleaning up fallen leaves, twigs and debris around property; cutting back trees and shrubs overhanging buildings and cleaning gutters.

Garden waste vouchers can be redeemed at all Council Recycling and Waste Depots and Council’s Green and Bulky Collection Service. To find out what is accepted as garden waste see Council’s Garden Waste Collection page.

The RFS Get Ready weekend on 19 to 20 September 2020 is a great time to get prepared to lessen the risk and vulnerability of your property from a bushfire or ember attacks.

Rural Fire Service Brigades, throughout the Shoalhaven, are taking part in the Get Ready Weekend. You can can find information about how to prepare on the NSW Rural Fire Service website.

Take a look at Wombat in action for tips on what you can do.
Grants Open - Round 2 of the South Eastern NSW PHN Bushfire Recovery

11 Sep 2020

Applications are now open for local organisations and community groups to support people in Southern NSW and the Shoalhaven to recover from the effects of the 2019-20 summer bushfires.
Funding of up to $10,000 is available for not-for-profits and community groups.
Applications close on 5 October 2020.
To apply for a South Eastern NSW PHN natural disaster community grant, go to: www.communitygrants.info where you can find more information on eligibility and grant guidelines, and complete an application form.
For information on bushfire recovery grants contact: Jennie Roe on 02 4474 8424 or email communitygrants@coordinare.org.au
Get Ready Weekend

09 Sep 2020
Shoalhaven City Council together with Shoalhaven Rural Fire Service are encouraging families, friends and neighbours to use the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) Get Ready Weekend on 19-20 September 2020 to prepare for bushfire season and start a broader conversation about being aware of and prepared for all hazards.
To support early planning and preparation, NSW RFS will once again host their annual Get Ready Weekend on 19-20 September, in person and online.
Get Ready now, by following the five simple steps:
1. Know your risk - think about the area you’re in and the types of disasters that could affect you;
2. Plan now for what you will do - sit down and talk with your family and plan for what you will do if a disaster affects your area;
3. Get your home ready - prepare your home by doing general home maintenance and checking your insurance coverage;
4. Be aware - find out how to prepare, what to do if there is a disaster in your area and connect with NSW emergency services to stay informed;
5. Look out for each other - share information with your family, friends, neighbours and those who may need assistance.
Emergency service organisations do an amazing job, but they can only do so much. Being prepared is everyone’s responsibility.
For more information visit the Get Ready resource web page.