Still the forgotten fires

Andy Clementson outside his caravan.

By Danielle Kutchel

When lightning struck in Bunyip State Park on Friday 1 March 2019, igniting a bushfire that would tear through more than 10,000 hectares and destroy dozens of properties, Andy Clementson was close enough to see it happen.

He was out slashing hay in a paddock when a lightning bolt struck about 600 metres away.

“It was real quick and real loud,” he recalled, “I like storms but this one scared the pants off me so I turned the tractor around and came home.”

The moment he arrived back though, he smelled smoke.

The following morning, at 10.29am, he saw flames leap across the ridge behind his house.

“We’ve only got one way out here, so it was time to leave.”

That was the last time he saw his house, which was “the first place to go” in the bushfire.

And ever since, for over 18 months, he’s been living in a caravan.

It’s been challenging living in such a confined space for such an extended period of time, but Andy said he’s humbled by the support and charity he has received.

Construction is progressing on his new home, and with a bit of luck he’ll be in by Christmas time.

Over a year and a half since the fires, of the 30 homes lost in the fires only three families have been able to rebuild and move into their new houses.

For others, complications have arisen with the requirement to satisfy Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) ratings to gain permits to rebuild, with many of the survivors stuck in building limbo.

Those without a home are all currently living in caravans, sheds or rental accommodation.

Andy is “philosophical” about the situation, saying “it takes as long as it takes”.

But other residents are not so happy with the speed of the rebuild, especially as the State Government continues to announce support for victims of the East Gippsland bushfires, from grants to replace septic and rainwater tanks to modular housing.

“The issue is and always has been equity in terms of government support,“ explained Tony Fitzgerald, chair of the Community Recovery Committee for the Bunyip Fire Complex.

“The continued announcements of millions of dollars of support to the Gippsland fires on relocation funding, temporary housing and the total cost of clean-up while Bunyip fire victims are being largely left to their own devices is devastating.“

Sue McMahon, Vice President of the Community Recovery Committee, echoed Mr Fitzgerald’s sentiments: “Not long after the fires here [Federal MP for Monash] Russell Broadbent came out to the Recovery Centre to one of our community dinners and assured us that, “every Australian who suffered a disaster such as this is treated equally”. I later wrote to him reminding him if his words but never received a reply.”

Residents in and around the Bunyip State Park who were impacted by the fires have long felt that they’ve been forgotten by the powers that be.

Mr Fitzgerald said the disparity between the experiences of Cardinia residents and East Gippsland residents was evidence of a systemic issue.

“The right approach is that anyone losing their homes, property, businesses and community infrastructure because of an horrific bushfire or disaster be treated equally. It’s simply a matter of good policy and putting money aside. At the moment relief funding is a captain’s call of the Prime Minister or Premier,“ he said.

Mental health funding is another key issue for residents.

Recently, the Community Recovery Committee lobbied Eastern Victoria MP Harriet Shing to get mental health support for the community, provided through DHHS, reinstated.

“To cut off counselling funds during Covid to people still in recovery from bushfire lacks sensitivity and shows a profound indifference to people’s struggle to get their lives back in order,” Mr Fitzgerald said.

“To Harriet’s credit funding has been reinstated till Christmas and a transitional process is being put in place.”

Ms Shing said she had offered “ongoing support” for the community’s recovery and said the State Government had extended its on-the-ground activities for Cardinia’s fire-affected residents.

“This includes the operation of the Tonimbuk Recovery Centre, the Bushfire Case Support Program, local resourcing to support recovery, and a range of other activities,” she said.

“The road to recovery is difficult, which is why this government has fast-tracked access to short-term accommodation by removing planning permit requirements for bushfire victims and established a dedicated $2.5 million Recovery Fund for communities affected by these fires.”

Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said he was “deeply concerned at how the 2019 Bunyip Complex Fires have become the forgotten fire for the Victorian Government,” and with the possibility of rebuilds continuing through another winter.

Mr Blackwood said he had made representations to relevant Ministers in Parliament about inequities in funding for affected residents.

“Despite efforts from Cardinia Shire and myself there has been no relief forthcoming except for a small amount to offset planning costs that was paid via the Cardinia Shire.

“I believe the biggest problem has been that Federal funding allocated to the State to administer has only been provided to those impacted by the 2019/20 fires in East Gippsland and the North East.”