Daily London
Addressing the media from Victoria’s State Control Centre, Albanese announced the funds, which will come from the federal and state governments, will bring the total Commonwealth‑State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for the fires to $329 million.
“This includes funds for clean up programs, for emergency recovery support programs, to support businesses, to support local government across a range of areas,” Albanese said.
“In addition to that, money to help repair public land and waterways, money for recovery water tanks rebates, funding across the board where it’s needed.
“We want to make sure that people know the government will be there at difficult times.”
More than 400,000 hectares of land has been scorched by bushfires over the last month alone.
The fires have razed more than 1300 structures, including 400 homes, according to Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said on Wednesday.
Four fires are still burning across the state, but firefighters have been able to bring all but two of the blazes under control.
Four watch and acts warnings remain in place for the Walwa and Carlisle River fires, where it’s still deemed too unsafe to return to several communities in the fire zone.
Residents in Gellibrand, Lovat and sections of Carlisle River are unable to return to their properties due to fire danger from Carlisle River blaze, after they were evacuated on Tuesday.
Those in Berringama, parts of Bullioh, Koetong, Lucyvale and Shelley, Bucheen Creek, Cravensville and parts of the southern end of the Nariel Valley and surrounds can’t go back to their properties near the Walwa bushfire either.
Warnings have been reduced in areas surrounding the fire activity zones in recent days.
The announcement comes after the federal and state governments earlier announced a joint $171 million disaster recovery payment support package for fire-impacted communities.
Those funds cover support for primary producers, residents who have experienced prolonged power outages and uninsured homeowners who have lost their properties.
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