Page 52 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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designed to provide a safe place for people to seek shelter and have their immediate needs met, including financial assistance and temporary accommodation, when they are required to evacuate their home or business. The relief centres are designed to provide a community-friendly location for reassurance and support, along with referral to other services as required, including financial assistance and temporary accommodation. Recovery centres, when needed, are essentially one-stop centres where people can access information on recovery assistance over a longer term period.
On 2 January 2020 a relief centre was established at Dickson College to provide respite and support to people impacted by the bushfires in New South Wales and Victoria. The centre was open for 14 days and provided much-needed assistance for more than 380 people. Over $30,000 worth of financial assistance was provided, along with meals, goods and clothing and 86 nights of accommodation.
The Orroral Valley fire began on 27 January and quickly escalated to an emergency-level bushfire. The Community Services Directorate took swift action, and on 28 January the Erindale evacuation centre was activated to provide a place of safety and support to Canberra’s southern suburbs threatened by this fire. The evacuation centre was open for 10 days and provided reassurance to 175 people.
MS CHEYNE: Minister, how has the government worked with local volunteers and community organisations to deliver support to people who have used our evacuation and respite centres?
MS ORR: I thank Ms Cheyne for her supplementary question. We know that Canberrans are strong and resilient, despite the constant impact of smoke and poor air quality that Canberrans have endured over the past month. We have continued to offer assistance to those who need it most. Coordinated teams of volunteers, local organisations and large businesses have all taken the time to deliver support to members of the local community and our interstate neighbours.
I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation to all the volunteers who gave up their time to assist in the running of the evacuation, relief and recovery centres. Without their support we would not have been able to provide the much needed support to the individuals and families seeking security during such a devastating period. I would also like to thank our community partners including GIVIT, the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, St John’s Ambulance, the Red Cross, Anglicare, Communities@Work, ACTCOSS and Volunteering and Contact ACT.
The impact caused by these bushfires has been felt across the country. However, it has been humbling to see the level of grassroots support from the Canberra community.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, in what ways will the ACT government continue to work with the Canberra community to promote social recovery efforts post the bushfire season?
MS ORR: Thank you, Mr Pettersson, for the question. Throughout January the ACT experienced extreme weather conditions: a series of heatwaves and
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