Community Recovery Committees (CRC) are the local representative groups who work to keep local voices, know-how and expertise front and centre during recovery planning and delivery. With 56 percent of our municipality burnt in the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfire events these representative groups have become a crucial part of a community led recovery in the region.
Taking this place based, community-led approach will ensure projects, grants and support programs developed with community, and funded by government, over the coming months and years will be the right fit for that community.
What a CRC is called and how it is established may differ from district to district and CRCs will beat different stages along their journey. That's okay – it’s what community-led recovery is all about.
These groups aim to represent their communities at both a district and locality level. All are different with some developed from existing groups and others are established new committees ,others working groups of existing representative groups.
Community Recovery Committees have, or are being, established for the following districts and localities:
If you are interested in learning about the CRC for your district, contact your Place Manager as listed below in the relevant district.
As part of council’s commitment to supporting communities in their recovery using a place, partnership and community led approach, we have a team of eight Place Managers working across the Shire.
Place Managers act as facilitators. They help to:
As CRCs and other community-led processes are established, this section of our website will be the place to find updates about community-led recovery in fire affected communities and how you can get in touch and involved.
Council have developed District Recovery Updates to provide information specific to local bushfire impacted areas.
These updates are distributed monthly through existing local channels, to provide recovery updates and relevant information to those to need it most. You can read the updates in the district subheadings below.
The second issue of our Rebuild Support Service Update is out now.
Developed to keep communities and landowners updated and connected with current information, data and resources. The monthly update keeps you informed for your rebuild, and how the service can support you.
The February update is now live on our website for viewing - https://bit.ly/3dlNnwG
Place Manager - Kathryn Macdonald
Email: kathrynm@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
District Recovery Updates
Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team
The Clifton Creek Community Recovery Team(CCCRT) has been established with a diverse representation of people in the community, including 12 members and a further eight affiliate members made up of representatives of the five associations located in Clifton Creek and interested community members. All welcome.
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Clifton-Creek-Community
Email: cliftoncreekcommunity@gmail.com
Sarsfield Community Recovery Committee
The Sarsfield Community Association has been established, along with three subcommittees for Health and Wellbeing/Events, Infrastructure and Environment. The main committee is meeting monthly. They are continuing to work on their community recovery plan and encourage community input as they work through this process. If any community members are interested in getting involved please contact Simon Hof on the email address below.
Website: www.sarsfield.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SRRCommunity
Email: president@sarsfield.com.au
Bruthen and District Community Recovery Committee
The Bruthen and District CRC was formally elected at the AGM of the Bruthen District Citizens Association (BDCA) at the end of July 2020.
This six person committee is operating as a sub-committee of the BDCA. The CRC is open to any interested community members to share their ideas, expertise and experience.
Email: bruthendistrictcrc@gmail.com
Place Manager - Suzie Healy
Email: suzieh@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500 or 0429 467 794
The Buchan, Gelantipy and Districts Renewal Association Incorporated was established in direct response to the Black Summer bushfire event. There are 11 community members that make up the Committee determined through a community nomination and election process. Interested people with a connection to the Buchan District are encouraged to join as a member.
During the first half of 2021, the Committee will be developing the Community Recovery Plan.
Website: www.buchandistrictsrenewal.com.au
Email: bganddra@gmail.com
Place Manager - Annie Kentwell
Email: anniek@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
District Recovery Updates
Since the bush fires, an interim Representative Group was brought together to meet on a regular basis to hear community needs and voice those needs to appropriate agency channels. Recently, nominations were sought from 20 community organisations and district localities to form the 2021 Cann Valley District Representative Group (CVDRG) in order to become an incorporated association, drive the District Community Plan and coordinate bushfire recovery and funding.
The incoming CVDRG has met twice now in 2021 with the first being a ‘social meet and greet’ to get to know each other, while the second meeting highlighted members motivation for being on the group. All showed a love and passion for the district and believed that it has much to offer, especially as there has been much change over the years especially economically, socially, culturally and environmentally. ‘We want to rekindle the essence of the area in order for it to flourish’.
Facebook page, email and website to come in 2021.
Place Manager - Peter Balmer
Email: peterb@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
The Community Recovery(sub) Committee was established in December 2020 and meets monthly. This is a sub-committee of the existing District Representative Group that was formed in July 2019 to take carriage of the Errinundra to Snowy (E2S) District Community Plan. Other sub committees re-established in December in the Recovery lens are the Nature-based Tourism committee, the Road Safety Committee (referring to the Bonang Road and Gap Road), and the Services Committee referring to securing on-going health and wellbeing services into the E2S often through telehealth.
Our committee provides broad representation of all E2S communities and specific interests of the entire region and to individual localities. We offer an on-going health and wellbeing service through outreach services and where possible telehealth. All committee members are long term residents committed to the betterment and sustainability of the E2S.
Meetings are currently monthly.
Email: errinundra2snowycrc@gmail.com
Wairewa Community Recovery Committee
The Wairewa Community Recovery Committee was one of the first CRC’s formed in East Gippsland immediately after the fires. It is a representative group of and for community members, brought together to plan and implement recovery projects not only to re-establish the shattered and highly traumatised community but also to ensure local residents, businesses and tradespeople income was assured. The CRC meets fortnightly to develop ideas to re-establish the community connectedness, develop projects and apply for funding and grants to improve community resources and to provide social events for all age groups.
Email:wairewacrc@gmail.com
Place Manager - Eva Grunden
Email: evag@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500 or 0428 432 252
District Recovery Updates
The Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA) Committee of Management commenced in June 2020.
The 12-person committee is tasked with ensuring a community-led recovery process is being taken in Mallacoota and surrounding towns following the 2019-20 summer bushfires.
Website: www.madrecovery.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/MADRA2020
Email: Mallacoota.district.assoc.2020@gmail.com
Place Manager - Anthony Nelson
Email: anthonyn@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
District Recovery Updates
The interim Omeo Region Community Recovery Association was formed in June 2020 to voice their community’s needs in recovery. The group became incorporated and sought expressions of interest from community members to join the group. At the AGM in October 2020, eight people were voted in as the Community Recovery Association members.
Email: secretaryorcra@gmail.com
Place Manager - Andrew McCreery
Email: andrewm@egipps.vic.gov.au
Phone: (03) 5153 9500
The Orbost District Community Recovery and Transition Committee (ODCRTC) was formed through a community expression of interest process. Members are from many parts of the district, including Orbost, Marlo, Cabbage Tree Creek, Brodribb River and Jarrahmond. The Committee has met regularly since late November 2020 with a Chair and Deputy Chair elected.
Email: secretaryODCRTC@gmail.com
Dr. Rob Gordon's session at Club Terrace
Dr. Rob Gordon's session for Clifton Creek Community
Dr. Rob Gordon's Session for Orbost community
Mallacoota - Economic Recovery Forum video link
BRV YouTube Channel - Dr. Rob Gordon video resources for support
Fire progression slideshow 21 Dec 2019-21 Feb 2020
Webinars
How Houses are Destroyed by Bushfire
How to Harden an Existing House
Getting your Insurance Right - Panel of Insurance Representatives
Understanding Rebuilding - Panel of Planning and Recovery Representatives (coming soon)
Make Better Decisions About Bushfire Risk in our Changing Climate (coming soon)
Bushfire Recovery Videos
Cr John White, Mayor East Gippsland Shire Council
Anne Richardson, President Great Alpine Gallery Swifts Creek
Blanche Evans, Council Emergency Management Officer
Andrew Collier, baker Seasalt Sourdough Swan Reach
Alan Rice, Kevin Dean and Barry Newcomen, community recovery
Stuart McConnell, Council's General Manager Bushfire Recovery
Jo Andrews and Kevser Tuncer, Sarsfield community recovery
We produced 58 bushfire newsletters. If you would like to request copies, please contact us.
All community meetings that were recorded including incident updates, trauma sessions with clinical psychologist Rob Gordon and Grocon clean-up, are available on our YouTube channel.