NSW treasurer Mike Baird visited bushfire-affected areas of Springwood and Winmalee on Saturday, pledging new money for the recovery effort.
“With the immediate threat from the bushfires now over in the Blue Mountains, bushfire victims are faced with the heartbreaking task of trying to rebuild their lives,” said Mr Baird.
“This is an incredibly overwhelming and emotional period, as many residents are wondering where to begin.”
The state and federal governments have allocated initial funding of $300,000 to the Blue Mountains Bushfire Support Services. This money will help provide services including financial and legal advice, counselling, and assistance with dealing with insurance companies and other service providers.
It comes on top of an extra $1.2 million for the asbestos clean-up announced by the State Government on Friday. This money will cover a “comprehensive clean-up of any asbestos contamination that has resulted from the bushfires” and will be co-ordinated through the Department of Public Works.
Mr Baird told the Gazette that seeing the bushfire devastation first-hand was crucial for the government’s response.
“One of the challenges in government is you’re [constantly] covered in paperwork ... but when you have a disaster like this, coming to see first-hand the impact on people’s lives is a stark reminder why you’re in government — it’s actually to help those most in need and to help those communities that need a range of services,” he said.
Mr Baird visited the bushfire recovery centre in Springwood with Blue Mountains MP Roza Sage, recovery co-ordinator Phil Koperberg and Blue Mountains RFS district manager David Jones.
He said the Blue Mountains community should be proud of the way it has responded to the fires.
“We don’t celebrate enough how special our communities are,” he said.
“Everyone in the Mountains should be very proud of what is amongst them — and what’s before them. It’s often missed in the day to day life. In some respects out of the tragedy it becomes a celebration of all that is wonderful about the Blue Mountains. It’s much more than the Three Sisters. It is an incredible group of people.”
