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Bushfire Assistance

Register for Bushfire Generated Green Waste Clean-up

Register your expression of interest to participate in the Bushfire Generated Green Waste Clean-up and Processing program

Bushfire Recovery Newsletter

Download the monthly newsletters prepared by Council’s Community Recovery Officer, Rachel Nicoll

Recovery support services

If you have been affected by bushfires, Recovery Support Services will help you in your recovery journey by providing personalised, long-term support.

Register for NSW bushfire clean-up

Register to opt in to the NSW bushfire clean-up

Bush Fire Recovery Guide

Council has developed a guide to all the services and support that is available to those affected by the recent bushfires.

Bushfire Community Grants Program

Lithgow Council is offering communities impacted by the 2019-2020 Summer Bushfires grants of up to $10,000 and above (subject to application and funding availability).

Council news

Black Summer – How the NSW Community Responded to the 2019-20 Bushfire Season

The NSW RFS engaged the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC) to conduct research into community preparedness, warnings and responses to the 2019-20 NSW bushfires. The NSW RFS identified eight key themes for investigation, including: (i) risk communication; (ii) effect of prolonged and repeated exposure to bushfire on planning, preparation and responses; (iii) effect of previous experience and exposure to bushfire on planning, preparation and responses; (iv)...

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Lithgow Readiness Rally

Equipping locals for future emergency events You’re invited to learn about disaster preparedness and community resilience through a FREE online virtual event on Saturday, 20 November 2021 from 6pm to 7.00pm. Engaging presentations and information from local emergency services, community organisations and businesses will cover the following topics: Bushfire seasonal update Weeds and environment / FireWise Gardens Bushfire design and construction Good habits to reduce your house and property...

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LETS GET TALKING – FREE ONLINE ZOOM WORKSHOPS

Step by Step Recovery Support Service is a personalised service which assists people who have been affected by the bush fires or other emergency events. Their wonderful Wellbeing Steppers are offering a program of online zoom workshops Free to join over the next six weeks:  LETS GET TALKING - FREE ONLINE ZOOM WORKSHOPS  Tuesdays 10am – 10.40am  FACILITATED BY WELL BEING COUNSELLORS  JOIN ONE OR AS MANY AS YOU LIKE book with workshop facilitator    Week...

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Well Being Outreach Program

For disaster affected residents in Lithgow, Mid-Western, Hawkesbury & Blue Mountains   Gateway Family Support Services and Wentworth Healthcare are partnering to provide free outreach wellbeing support for residents in Lithgow, Hawkesbury and the Blue Mountains. The Well Being program sits alongside Gateway’s Step by Step Recovery Support Service to provide a comprehensive range of practical, emotional and psychological support to residents affected by the 2019/20 bushfires and the...

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Free trauma-related training for frontline workers

Phoenix Australia is offering free workshops across regional Australia to help frontline workers support trauma-impacted employees, colleagues and community members. The training will help anyone who’s on the frontline to better help people affected by the recent bushfires and floods, as well as stressors like COVID-19. Workshops like these are a valuable opportunity to learn new skills, brush up on old ones, and meet other frontline workers in your region. The training offers simple,...

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Lessons from Black Summer: how people experienced the 2019/20 NSW fire season

Community expectations of warnings and information appear to be growing, shows new NSW-based research with UOW: University of Wollongong, Australia, and Macquarie University. The Bushfire and Natural Hazard Cooperative Research Centre spoke to 200+ people and surveyed 1000+ others for a report commissioned by the NSW Rural Fire Service to explore people’s experiences during the Black Summer fires in NSW. The research shows the challenges around community expectations of warnings, with many...

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Residents are invited to attend a free upcoming webinar series offering information for fire-affected communities to rebuild homes for climate and fire resilience

The webinars coincide with the launch of Renew’s Green Rebuild Toolkit (http://greenrebuildtoolkit.com/) a set of online resources, articles, and information to assist fire-affected communities to plan for, retrofit and rebuild their homes to suit our changing climate. As publishers of both Renew and Sanctuary magazine, Renew draws on over forty years of experience in this sector as well as an extensive network of technical experts, architects and designers. The webinars will feature experts...

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Lithgow City Council hosts important event for bushfire-impacted residents

 Local residents, including Emergency Service volunteers and people impacted by last year's bushfires - came over the weekend for the special event hosted by Lithgow City Council. The Bushfire Recovery & Community Day was a free, Covid-safe event organised to help residents connect with recovery services, plan and prepare for the future and thank RFS and emergency service volunteers following last summer's horror bushfire season - which started in late October and burned into early...

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Update from the Community Recovery Officer

A big newsletter for October and an even bigger thank you to everyone who has completed Council's Outreach Survey. We've seen a strong number of responses and feedback from across the LGA, which has assisted Council in being able to follow up on available supports, identify principal themes and issues and collect important information for recovery operations. If you would like to complete the survey there is still time, please email Recovery@Lithgow.nsw.gov.au or call 6354 9960. Since starting...

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Council Bushfire Recovery Assistance

At the 13 January 2020 Extraordinary Meeting, Council resolved to implement a number of bushfire recovery assistance measures. Council is now offering the following assistance measures for bushfire affected residents: Relief from domestic waste charges for properties where dwellings were fire damaged. A rebate for water usage charges during the bush fire crisis (upon application). The waiver of fees for Development Applications and associated charges for replacement dwellings if such costs are...

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Mental Health Resources

New mental health products for Lithgow residents

If you or someone you know are considering reaching out for emotional and mental health support for the first time, you might be wondering where to start. Lithgow-specific mental health products are now available, showing who you can call in our local area to access free counselling and other support. Help is available for anyone who needs a hand. Floods, bushfires, cyclones, and drought have always been a part of the Australian landscape, and in recent times hazards like the COVID-19 pandemic...

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Bushfire Grants

Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program

The $280 million Black Summer Bushfire Recovery (BSBR) grants program will support community recovery from the 2019-20 bushfires, and are an opportunity for communities who still require assistance to access support for their recovery journey. Grants can range from $20,000 to $10 million. A broad range of recovery and resilience projects can be supported through the grants – from social and community wellbeing projects right through to projects that support the recovery of local economies...

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Recovery Boost $50 000 grant program now open

The third round of the Recovery Boost funding program is now open. The Recovery Boost program provides up to $50,000 for mental health projects that encourage early help seeking, support recovery and reduce stigma. Benefits and lessons from these projects will broaden the evidence base of what works. There is a particular interested in proposals from people with lived experience of workplace mental health recovery, regional and remote businesses, Aboriginal people and businesses, culturally...

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State and Federal Government news

Further Support for Primary Producers and Small Businesses in Bushfire Communities

Bushfire-impacted dairy farmers, fruit growers and forestry businesses are set to benefit from recovery funding to help them get back on their feet and back to work, thanks to the NSW Government’s $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package. Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said targeted grants would be available to help the forestry, horticulture, apiculture, aquaculture, viticulture and dairy industries retain and create jobs and support them to...

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Small Business Support Grants

If your small business has experienced a significant decline in revenue as a result of the NSW 2019-2020 bushfires (beginning in August 2019), and it's located within a specified Local Government Area (LGA), you may be eligible for the $10,000 small business support grant. The application process for this grant has been simplified so eligible small businesses can access funds as quickly as possible. The grant may be used for, but is not limited to: meeting standard business costs,...

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$140 million program opens for bushfire impacted forestry, horticulture and agriculture industries.

Bushfire-impacted dairy farmers, fruit growers and forestry businesses are set to benefit from recovery funding to help them get back on their feet and back to work, thanks to the NSW Government’s $140 million Bushfire Industry Recovery Package. Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said targeted grants would be available to help the forestry, horticulture, apiculture, aquaculture, viticulture and dairy industries retain and create jobs and support them to...

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NSW Bushfire Clean Up

Register to opt in to the NSW bushfire clean up The NSW Government and the Commonwealth are covering the full cost of cleaning up eligible NSW properties that have been destroyed by bushfires since July 2019. To register or further information can be found on Service NSW website at www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-opt-nsw-bushfire-clean

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Support agencies news

Step by Step Recovery Support Services

After a disaster event comes the recovery – the cleaning-up, and the task of getting back to normal. Although it can seem overwhelming, we often find the energy to get on with the practical tasks that need doing. After a while you might find you’re exhausted, frustrated, angry or sad. You may have been through disaster events before, and this time it might all seem too much. This is a very normal response to recovering from a disaster. You may be judging yourself harshly and have high...

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Mental Health Assistance

Mental Health Assistance for people impacted by fires and drought: Rural Adversity Mental Health Program – Local Coordinator Sonia Cox - 0448 125 676 Sonia.Cox@health.nsw.gov.au www.nbmphn.com.au/Community/Bushfire-Support Free counselling and additional mental health support for individuals, families and emergency services workers affected by the bushfires. www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/subjects/how-get-mental-health-support Mental health support for bushfire affected communities...

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