Federal Member for Wright, Scott Buchholz has announced significant funding to deliver 13 projects, focused on supporting the Scenic Rim community to recovery and be better prepared to deal with bushfires.
Mr Buchholz said he was pleased the Government was delivering $9,104,758 in funding for community projects in the Scenic Rim under the Australian Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program (BSBRGP).
“I have advocated night and day for our region, and I am thrilled for the community that we have secured this funding. I see the hard work communities are undertaking towards their own recovery, and this is another way we are in lock step with them on the recovery journey,” Mr Buchholz said.
Mr Buchholz said the grants program was about giving the community the capacity to design and deliver projects that they desired and that would deliver a long-term legacy for residents.
“This funding is an investment in the Scenic Rim, from Aratula to Beechmont, and it will support every element of our ongoing recovery.
I am particularly pleased to see funding for the Boonah Showgrounds multipurpose facility, a site that was critical to the emergency response during the fires.
“This community has dealt with disaster before, the people, the businesses, the farmers – they have pulled together and got through it. We know that recovery is a long, hard haul and communities are best placed to decide on what the local area needs.
“The Federal Government has worked hand-in-glove with the community to support the recovery, to make sure the funding is spent where it is desired and to have a locally led recovery,” Mr Buchholz said.
Project Co-ordinator of the Scenic Rim Multi-Purpose Arena, Phil Gutzke thanked Scott Buchholz for his strong advocacy and support throughout the process and said that the project would deliver a facility which will activate significant social and economic benefits for the local community.
“We worked very hard on this project, bringing many stakeholders together and it was great to have the support of our federal member, Scott Buchholz. This funding is critical to the success of the project and will mean a lot to our community.
“The bushfires, floods, drought, hailstorms and COVID-19 have hit us hard across the Scenic Rim and the Boonah Showgrounds precinct played a critical role. Being able to deliver this project will support the recovery and growth of our economy, community and bring people together,” Mr Gutzke said.
Chairman of Binna Burra Lodge, Steve Noakes said the Binna Burra community in Queensland, across Australia and overseas are greatly appreciative of this very significant bushfire recovery support from the Australian Government.
“In particular, we wish to express our thanks to our local member of the Australian Parliament Scott Buchholz, for his ongoing support to the recovery efforts of Binna Burra Lodge.
“We also thank the team at the National Recovery and Resilience Agency for their encouragement throughout the submission process.
“Disaster recovery is not a short-term project. To achieve what we have managed to achieve at Binna Burra Lodge since our reopening in September 2020 would not have been possible with what I call PALs – our Partnerships, Alliances and Linkages. The Australian Government, the National Recovery and Resilience Agency and Scott Buchholz are all certainly PALs of Binna Burra Lodge.
“With our remaining assets after the 2019 bushfires, the Binna Burra Cultural Landscape is open to all Australian and now with the international borders reopening, to visitors from overseas,” Mr Noakes said.
Mr Buchholz said the funded projects were community driven.
“While these funds are not designed to replace the significant loss of property, or raise the horrific memories of the fires, these funds are designed to build resilience and rebuild our community.
“I thank all those who made an application to the fund on behalf of the community,” Mr Buchholz.
Under the grants, the Scenic Rim local government area received funding for 13 projects, including:
- Aratula Community Sports Centre Inc $32,300 – Installation of a cold room at the sports centre.
- Boonah Show Society Inc – $3,850,000 – Construction of a multipurpose arena to deliver a new sports and recreation facility and disaster hub.
- Canungra and District Agricultural Horticultural and Industrial Society Inc. $544,134 – Rebuild the Fine Arts pavilion, affectionally known as the ‘Possum Hut’.
- Griffith University $249,446 – Deliver a bushfire response program to support the Scenic Rim tourism sector through capacity building initiatives.
- Mckenzie-Carter Pty Ltd / Providence Farm Hall $454,184 – Upgrades of the hall to be a purpose designed recovery centre.
- Moriarty Park Community Sporting Centre Inc – $302,704 – Build change rooms at Moriarty Park, including showers, toilets and secure facilities to support sport and recreation.
- QCWA Branch Beechmountain – $129,650 – Community events to support the region, create connection and improved economy.
- Queensland University of Technology – $290,140 – This project will undertake pre-bushfire assessments of buildings, understand why they were damaged, investigate their resilience in future bushfires and propose evidence-based retrofitting solutions.
- Rathdowney and District Memorial Grounds Association Incorporated – $591,000 – Construct a flexible-use community resource centre to support residents during disasters.
- Protecting the Tamborine Mountain Community from the impact of Bushfire – $361,200 – Constructions of new fire trails to support fire resilience and hazard reduction on Tamborine Mountain.
- ESCAPE in the Scenic Rim – $100,000 – Deliver a festival, attract visitors, and market the region to support eco-tourism and small businesses
- The Long Sunset – $200,000 – Large outdoor music event to support the ongoing economic and social recovery.
- Binna Burra Lodge – $2,000,000 – Building a new Lodge to drive local economic growth and create jobs for the local community
Ends.
Background
- This Government has boosted the program by a further $110 million to a total of $390m.
- 524 projects will be funded under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program, with communities devastated by the 2019-20 bushfires sharing $390 million in support.
- New emergency services facilities, mental health services and support, and upgraded community amenities are among the 524 projects funded under the program.
