Replanting MidCoast gardens after 2019-20 bushfires Highlight Section Myall Coast Port Stephens by News Of The Area - Modern Media - April 14, 2022 Federal funding of $150,000 will allow MidCoast garden owners to rebuild after the 2019-20 bushfires. Dr Gillespie with members of the MidCoast Growers Network at Gloucester Community Garden – Joel Dunn, Local Landcare coordinator for Karuah Great Lakes Landcare, Melinda Kiker, MidCoast Growers Network treasurer and Ron Woods, MidCoast Growers Network outreach coordinator. A NUMBER of gardens damaged in the 2019-20 summer bushfires across the MidCoast will be replanted and fireproofed with the help of Federal funding. Federal Member for Lyne Dr David Gillespie has announced $150,000 in Federal funding under the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants program to support property owners to replant their gardens and prepare for any future event. Advertise with News of The Area today. It’s worth it for your business. Message us. Phone us – (02) 4981 8882. Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au “We know how crippling it is to lose valuable farmland, stock or personal assets. “It’s just as devastating to see a beautiful garden destroyed, particularly when the garden is someone’s livelihood,” Dr Gillespie said. “We’re anticipating a strong and positive community response to this project and will look forward to seeing some of the beautiful and clever garden restorations that occur.” MidCoast Growers’ Network spokesperson Melanie Kiker said many landowners were keen to learn how to fireproof their properties. “A number of local garden owners are anxious about rebuilding and then facing a future bushfire which wipes them out again. “Re-designing is also a chance to make your home, garden and outbuildings more resilient to bushfires,” Ms Kiker said. “We’ll aim to initially restore 16 local gardens, linking in as many people as we can with this project. “We’ll have a strong focus on information dissemination – public outreach, video-documented garden redesigns, workshops, our website and social media – so that we can leave a long-term legacy for all bushfire-prone communities in the MidCoast LGA and beyond.” For further information please email MidCoast Growers Network midcoastgrowersnetwork@gmail.com.
