Community Recovery plan
SUPPORTING RECOVERY FOR A BETTER “AFTER”
When the Upper Murray was severely impacted by the 2019/2020 bushfires, UMI took a leadership role in the recovery process, on behalf of the community, to identify need and apply for funding to rebuild social and economic security.
In the wake of the bushfires these devastating figures illustrate and the need for economic support for the Upper Murray agricultural industry.
The following is a tally of damage and destruction:
82 properties destroyed
548 farming properties damaged
23 wool sheds
2 dairy sheds
88 machinery sheds destroyed
128 hay sheds destroyed
15 irrigation pumps destroyed
Stock losses were estimated in the vicinity of over 5800 head.
The agricultural commodity losses in the Upper Murray include:
field crops (926 ha),
hay and silage (19,827 t),
pasture (34,831 ha),
softwood plantation (6393 ha)
Some areas of the Region were without power for nearly 3 weeks.
The recovery process has been well supported but slow with COVID and the NSW /Victorian border closures. Social connectedness which is so important for recovery is still even now only intermittently possible and the health and well being of our community is foremost in our minds. The impact on local business in Corryong the main town of the Upper Murray will be evident for years. A thriving tourism industry supported by a substantial marketing campaign and a strong Chamber of Commerce is the way to economic stability for these businesses. UMI is working hard to ensure we achieve these goals of recovery.
The Upper Murray Community Recovery Committee
The Upper Murray Community Recovery Committee was established in February 2020 following the 2019-2020 bushfires. The Committee’s prime purpose was to support community recovery across the entire Upper Murray region, including communities on both sides of the river/state border and therefore representing communities in both New South Wales and Victoria.
The Upper Murray Community Recovery Committee came together to:
Advocate for community recovery needs with and on behalf of stakeholders
Assist with proposals to attract project funding and resources to invest in the Upper Murray region
Maintain effective two-way communication on the community recovery process
Contribute to evaluation processes that will improve future disaster recovery efforts.
Support us.
Your donation of much needed funds will help us to resource and deliver projects of real impact for the Upper Murray and its community.
All donations to UMI are tax deductible.