Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Tim Wiebusch and Deputy Commissioner Relief & Recovery Mariela Diaz visited people affected by the fires, and Carranballac Recreation Reserve in Pyrenees Shire on Monday, before taking in the Community Fire Photo Exhibition at the Skipton Mechanics Institute Hall.
There they met Councillors and CEOs of the three Shires affected by the Streatham-Caranballac-Skipton, and Larralea bushfires in January.
The combined Councils passed on community concerns about the long wait for site cleanups - particularly asbestos - and the danger of fire-affected trees on state-managed land along roadsides and fence lines. They also called for streamlining disaster relief programs so residents could apply once and avoid the stress of duplicated applications.
Cr Makin and Cr Cole also asked that they emphasise to the State Government the importance of funding to bring the Skipton Recreational Reserve up to scratch as an Emergency Relief Centre and Bushfire Place of Last Resort.
While in Skipton the EMV leaders got first-hand accounts from a group of Corangamite residents about the barriers they have faced during the recovery period and how things could be improved for future emergencies.
They then toured the BlazeAid Camp at Bradvale where they heard volunteers have cleared 342.5 km of burnt fencing and rebuilt 227.55 km.
Caption: From left: Pyrenees Shire CEO Jim Nolan and Municipal Recovery Manager, Ray Davies, Corangamite Cr Nick Cole, Pyrenees Cr Tanya Kehoe and Mayor Damien Ferrari, Corangamite CEO David Rae, Deputy Commissioner Relief & Recovery Mariela Diaz, Corangamite Mayor Kate Makin, Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch, and Ararat Rural City Mayor Bob Sanders and Deputy CEO Phuong Au. Also present were EMV Regional Director, West and EMV Grampians Ms Kendra Clegg.
