Alpine Community Recovery Committee

The Alpine CRC released a Community Survey in 2020. The survey demonstrated that the community have identified a number of priorities that they believe are imperative to bushfire preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience. To address these priorities, the Alpine CRC have met with relevant agencies to explain what they are doing in the Alpine region.

Community and Connectivity

Improved internet and communications was the second highest priority identified by the community in the Alpine CRC Survey. The Alpine CRC met with representatives from organisations to understand what is being done to improve communications in the region, including Alpine Shire Council, Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV), NBNCo and Telstra. The key findings were:

• There is no immediate resolution to what is a complex and multi-layered issue.
• Alpine Shire Council is developing a strategic document to identify telecommunications issues, the gaps, and recommendations going forward. The information from this study will be used to prioritise next steps.
• BRV are developing a plan to understand the scale of this issue from a ‘human priority perspective’. A new role that includes this job scope commenced early in 2021.
• NBNCo have Road Muster Trucks for use in an emergency. The Truck provides a satellite connection for communities in an emergency, but is to be used for connectivity only. Range is limited to 250m.
• Telstra have applied for funds to connect the Bairnsdale to Wangaratta optic fibre network as there is currently a 42km gap in this route. Connection will increase the reliability and resilience of the fibre optic service, enabling communications to be rerouted from either direction and increasing the capacity to be able to connect other towns off the main route.
• Isolated communities could have a satellite phone based in their community. If this is of interest to your community, please contact the Alpine CRC by emailing info@alpinecrc.org.au or approaching one of our representatives.

Environmental Protection and Management

The survey suggested that our communities regard environmental protection and management as the number one priority for future bushfire preparation. So much so, that this priority was ranked amongst the highest across all our communities. The Alpine CRC met with DELWP to find out how they have been addressing this priority. For more information on any of the following, visit their website.

• replacing boundary fencing on both public and private land
• repairing 490km of firebreaks on public land while managing plant species and erosion
• repairing 440km of roads and numerous bridges
• looking to divert hazardous trees to community depots for firewood
• managing and repairing waterways by removing barriers for native fish to swim upstream
• reseeding 6000ha of Alpine Ash using existing seed banks
• assessing and rehabilitating the long-footed potoroo, spotted-tree frog, and Macquarie perch
• focusing on high-threat weeds, including broom in the Buckland Valley and willow in Buffalo River
• trying to secure funding for other weeds, including blackberries as it is acknowledged that they are an extreme issue
• culling 3000 pests animals in eastern Victoria, including deer, goats, pigs, and foxes
• undergoing work at Mt Buffalo, particularly around the chalet, and at the Tawonga Caravan Park
• helping to establish stand-alone power systems so that communities can be more sufficient when in need of power

Access a larger version of DELWP's Bushfire Recovery Progress in Northeast Victoria - 18 Months On.

Mental Health with Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV)

The Alpine CRC met with Cecily Fletcher, the People and Wellbeing Coordinator for BRV to discuss what is being done about mental health in the Alpine region. The People and Wellbeing team collaborates with a number of key agencies and services at local, state, and national levels to work with communities. This means that the team have access to a number of experts who can support you when you need it most.

Find out more about BRV by visiting their website. 

Recovery with Gateway Health

The Alpine CRC met with Jarryd Williams, Bushfire Recovery Manager for Gateway Health, to discuss personalised assistance for bushfire-affected regions. Jarryd manages a team of 12 who operate in the Alpine, Indigo, Mansfield and Towong Shires, the rural cities of Wangaratta and Wodonga, and the Alpine Resorts.

The primary purpose of the Bushfire Recovery team is to coordinate recovery support for bushfire-affected families and individuals. Recovery Case Managers organise assistance across a variety of areas including mental health, legal aid, financial counselling, grant writing, and material supports including septic systems, private fencing, bedding, clothing, household items, and providing feed for animals. Gateway Health constantly advocate to Local, State and Federal authorities to access supports for individual members of affected communities and lobby for their needs. The Bushfire Recovery team is currently funded until December, 2021.

To find out more about how Gateway Health can support you, visit their website. Alternatively, get in touch with Intake Coordinator, Lara, by calling 0418 761 350 or by emailing bushfirerecovery@gatewayhealth.org.au.