Pinery Bushfires

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON (Ramsay—Minister for Communities and Social Inclusion, Minister for Social Housing, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Youth, Minister for Volunteers) (14:06): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. Z.L. BETTISON: The Pinery bushfire started on Wednesday 25 November 2015. Two lives were tragically lost and 31 members of our community injured; six of those people suffered severe injuries. The fire escalated rapidly across four local council areas in the Mid North of the state and caused major damage to more than 83,000 hectares in the areas of Owen, Hamley Bridge, Wasleys, Kapunda, Freeling, Tarlee and Greenock; 97 homes were destroyed and about 630 other structures, causing extensive damage to vehicles, equipment and crops. There was extensive loss of stock, paddock feed, hay stores, straw paddocks and unreaped crops.

Recovery operations are continuing following the devastating fire. We know this is an ongoing challenge and our efforts have shifted from immediate recovery to medium and long-term activities which are essential to the affected individuals, families, businesses and communities. On 6 May 2016, I joined the member for Grey, Mr Rowan Ramsey, to announce joint commonwealth state funding of additional recovery assistance for the communities hardest hit by the bushfire. This announcement includes vital funding of:

$260,000 for a mental health outreach program for 12 months to be administered by the Department of Health and Ageing;

grants of up to $10,000, through the primary producer recovery grant program, to help eligible farmers clean up, remove debris, repair damaged equipment and make other general repairs and get life back to normal again;

community development programs and projects for up to two years will also be funded; and

the operation of the state recovery centre for 12 months, including increased re-establishment grants, case management and Australian Red Cross relief and recovery support.

A vital aspect of the recovery effort is the Local Recovery Coordinator who works with the local community and also chairs the local recovery committee, which meets fortnightly and includes leaders and representatives of local and state government, the commonwealth Department of Human Services and service organisations. I would like to welcome Alex Zimmermann to the role of Local Recovery Coordinator, replacing the outgoing coordinator, Vince Monterola.

Mr Zimmermann is currently a chief inspector with SA Police and the Local Service Area Commander for the Barossa region. He is experienced in working with local communities and emergency management. On behalf of the state government, I welcome Mr Zimmermann to the role, and I am confident he will continue to provide a high level of support to help the local community recover from the fire. I also take this opportunity to thank Mr Monterola for his hard work and commitment during his time in the role. He has shown great dedication to the individuals and communities impacted by the Pinery fire.