Imagery from the upcoming ABC Fires Series may be distressing for some community members.

In preparation, NSW Health has created a toolkit for organisations supporting bushfire-affected communities to help them deal with the memories, traumas and feelings of anxiety seeing this footage may raise.

To view the resource, click HERE

Renew has developed a Green Rebuild Toolkit with 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. A series of webinars will be held to coincide with the release of the Green Build Toolkit.

The topics and dates for the webinars are as follows:
➡ Rebuild first steps - Tuesday, 1 June 6pm to 7.30pm. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/3fjLH7w
➡ Designing & building for bushfire & climate resilience - Wednesday, 2 June 6pm to 7.30pm. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/34fO3h6
➡ Materials & construction for bushfire & climate resilience - Thursday, 3 June 6pm to 7.30pm. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/34ekU66
➡ Home energy setups for bushfire zones & climate resilience - Tuesday, 8 June 6pm to 7.30pm. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/3bQujFe
➡ Water storage & fire-resistant landscaping - Wednesday, 9 June 6pm to 7.30pm. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/3yLDAIy
➡ Retrofitting for fire resistance - Thursday, 10 June 6pm to 7.30pm. Register here 👉 https://bit.ly/3vhJ9MI

Hawkesbury City Council has welcomed new tree planting grants that are now available from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) to restore bushfire affected regions, including the Hawkesbury.

If you are working to restore large areas of habitat by tree planting in areas that were impacted by the 2019-2020 bushfires, then you can apply for a Bushfire Restoration Grant from the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) to receive trees to plant. Please note that you must apply for the grant first before going to the Nursery for the trees and large orders are preferred.

The bushfire restoration grants are open for online applications at https://fnpw.org.au/grants until 30 June 2021. Individuals, community groups, organisations or government departments working in these areas are all eligible to apply for support for projects commencing in 2021.

In 2020, FNPW supported the upgrade of the Hawkesbury Community Nursery to become a bushfire recovery nursery to assist in restoration activities.

📌 Media release ➡ HERE

CASS HUB CANCELLED - ST ALBANS

This fortnight’s CASS Hub at St Albans scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled.
If you would like to speak to one of the services that was coming please call;

☎️ Councils Recovery Officer on 0437 144 475
☎️ Karen from Salvos on 0429 549 494,
☎️ Anne from Step by Step Bushfire Recovery Services on 0417 298 832
☎️ Bronwyn from Red Cross on 0409 796 682.

Next St Albans Hub will be 8 April.

We know that people and communities can be affected by bushfire in many ways and over various periods of time. We want to let you know we are still here and we are starting up Community Advice and Support Service Hubs at four community venues in the Hawkesbury in February and March.

These fortnightly half-day Hubs will provide an additional opportunity for you to connect with each other and services closer to home. Details can be found in the brochure under the Documents Tab. It would be great to see you for a cuppa and a chat. We will bring some more free native plants to the first Hubs.

We are happy to work with you around what activities and services will suit your community best. At the first Hubs, Council staff will be accompanied by Step by Step Recovery Services, Red Cross, Salvos.

Hawkesbury City Council is offering grants of $500 to $5,000 to support communities impacted by the 2019-2020 Summer Bushfires.

The grants are to support community groups, joint organisations and not-for-profit groups to undertake projects that enhance social recovery and preparedness activities.

Projects should be community-led events or programs for grass-roots activities that contribute to community recovery and/or resilience including projects that support community wellbeing.

Applications for Round 1 will be received until close of business 28 February 2021.

Click here for further information or call us on 4560 4576 or email to patricia.sundin@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

The Community Team at Hawkesbury City Council and Red Cross are planning a Family Fun and Declutter Day on Saturday, 27 February from 9am to 1pm at Colo Heights Oval.

This will be a community event with lots of free fun things for kids to do. Special Appearance from Creature Features Reptile Show and display.
There will be things to eat, community and recovery information and a chance for you to sell some of your wares, old or new. Whatever you can fit on a picnic blanket! You might even bag a bargain. Check out the event flyer here

ℹ️ For more information or to get involved contact 0437 144 475 or email
emurphy@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

You may find some of the following useful in your Recovery;

📌 Step by Step Newsletter ➡ click here
📌Resources and Tips for Parents during School Holidays ➡ click here
📌Anniversary Check In ➡ click here

📌Fake Tradies Fact Sheet ➡ click here

Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund - Applications are now open until 2pm Thursday, 28 January 2021. Follow this link for further details 👉www.nsw.gov.au/region…/bushfire-local-economic-recovery-fund

📌NSW Business Survey for Bushfire Impacted Areas - The NSW Government would like to hear about your experience as a business owner affected by the 2019–20 bushfires via a brief survey. To complete the survey, please click on this link 👉 https://nswbushfire.syd1.qualtrics.com/…/form/SV_0B8W3L5q27…

ℹ️ To view the range of assistance currently available to bushfire-affected businesses, please visit the Service NSW bushfire support hub at https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/business-support-bushfire-impacted-communities

You can also call 13 77 88 to speak to a Service NSW Business Concierge or visit https://mybusiness.service.nsw.gov.au/concierge to register for a call back at a time that suits you.