A new community hub will be built in Scotsburn as part of a plan to help the town’s recovery from last year’s bushfire.
The December 19 fire zigzagged through Scotsburn and surrounding towns, burning 3000 hectares and destroying 11 homes and 55 buildings.
The state government has provided Moorabool council with $300,000 for the Clarendon Community Hub project.
The hub, at Clarendon Recreation Reserve, will include a new building with kitchen facilities, a social area, toilets and amenities to cater for large community groups.
The government will also provide the Corangamite Catchment Management Authority with $624,000 to restore and re-vegetate bushfire-affected areas.
The authority will work alongside residents and farmers on the project.
Emergency Services Minister James Merlino, who announced the funding at a Scotsburn Community Fire Planning workshop last week, said the government would continue to support the community “every step of the way”.
“A new community hub and continued work on restoring bushfire-affected areas will go a long way in backing in this great area as it recovers,” he said.
Moorabool chief executive Rob Croxford said the hub would bring the community together.
The funding follows the announcement of government grants of $180,000 for Moorabool and Ballarat councils earlier this year to help them support community bushfire recovery.
A further $100,000 fund was set up to support recovery initiatives.
