Applications for the $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants program open

Applications are now open for Calare communities recovering from the Black Summer bushfires to apply for funding under an Australian Government grants program.

Mr Gee said applications for the $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grants program are now open to community organisations, businesses and councils in the Lithgow, Mid-Western, and Oberon Local Government Areas that were disaster-declared as a result of the 2019-20 bushfires.

"Many areas in the Central West were devastated as the fire fronts hit properties, villages, towns, and the City of Lithgow itself. Homes were destroyed, livelihoods ruined, and the lives of locals and volunteers were put in peril in the face of the ferocious and incessant blaze," he said.

"18 months have passed, yet the scars on our landscape, and on the lives of those affected,still remain. For many, the summer of 2019-2020 will always be remembered as a nightmare.

"It's a harsh and cruel fact that bushfires will threaten our region again in the future, so we must take steps now to prepare for future emergencies.

"Our communities know only too well that recovery is a long haul, and these recovery efforts are individual to each community."

The grants, ranging from $20,000, will fund a broad range of recovery and resilience projects, from social and community wellbeing projects right through to projects that support the recovery of local economies and future bushfire preparedness.

Applications will close on 2 September 2021.

Information about applying for these grants and the support available, including workshops (in person and online), are available at https://recovery.gov.au/black-summer-grants Guidelines and the preview application form are available from the Business Grants Hub at https://business.gov.au/bsbr

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