MITCHELL Shire Council is working closely with Murrindindi, Strathbogie and Mansfield shire councils under a shared agreement to support fire-hit communities wherever help is needed, regardless of municipal boundaries or administrative barriers.
As the Murrindindi community continues the long road to recovery following the January fires, the scale of the task has made clear the importance of councils working together, alongside state and federal governments support.
Through the Municipal Association of Victoria’s emergency management support program, councils from across Victoria have stepped in to assist Murrindindi Shire Council with the recovery efforts.
More than 90 staff from more than 15 Victorian councils have stepped in to assist the community, including close to 50 from the City of Whittlesea.
This means that if residents see staff wearing another council’s badge working on local roads, trees, bridges or entering fire‑impacted properties, they are there on behalf of Murrindindi Shire Council. Community members are encouraged to give them a friendly welcome and know they are part of a coordinated recovery effort supporting the shire.
The additional workforce is playing a vital role across Murrindindi Shire, supporting recovery information hubs, undertaking on-site property assessments, inspecting roads, bridges and trees, and helping maintain essential council services while recovery work continues at pace.
To date, hundreds of kilometres of roads have been assessed and more than 250 property assessments completed.
About half of council’s own workforce has been personally affected by the fires. Having extra staff on the ground means council can continue supporting the community, with minimal disruption to services.
Mayor of Murrindindi Shire, Damien Gallagher, said collaboration had been central to the recovery efforts.
“Our community has been through an incredibly difficult time, and our priority is making sure people feel supported at every stage of recovery.
“The additional staff who have joined us from other councils are making a real difference on the ground. Their contribution is helping us provide timely, practical assistance to residents, farmers and businesses where it’s needed most.”
Murrindindi Shire is by far the most impacted local government area in the January fires.
Damage is still being assessed, and to date includes 193 houses destroyed and 561.4 hectares of agricultural land impacted.
To stay updated on fire recovery in Murrindindi Shire, visit murrindindi.vic.gov.au/recovery and sign up for the Fire Recovery Newsletter.
