Locals in bushfire impacted Kiah and Wandella will soon receive new and improved community halls through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund, co-funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments.
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Member for Bega Andrew Constance on Thursday announced a share of $3million will go towards rebuilding and restoring the local halls at Kiah and Wandella as two of three community halls across regional NSW that will be restored after they were damaged by the 2019/20 bushfires.
"In many rural and regional communities the hall is the centrepoint of everything that goes on and for some towns and villages it's the only significant building," Mr Constance said.
"This funding will give Kiah and Wandella locals a brand new hall after theirs was lost early this year.
"Community halls often accommodate weddings, meetings, birthdays and annual events making it the beating heart of country towns, symbolising hope and prosperity.
"The share of $3million in funding to rebuild our halls is an investment in the social fabric of our community, it will also provide direct economic stimulus, creating jobs for locals."
The funding will be allocated to Bega Valley Shire Council, which will work with the communities to achieve their new hall.
Mayor Russell Fitzpatrick thanked the NSW government and Mr Constance for the ongoing support of the bushfire recovery.
"This is fantastic news for the local hall committees and will assist council in rebuilding back, better than ever," Cr Fitzpatrick said.
"We are fortunate to have architect Tim Lee working with us and the community in Wandella to help design what they would like to see in their new community hall."
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund has been designed to deliver infrastructure and initiatives that will boost economic and social recovery, increase community preparedness for future natural disasters and help to get residents back on their feet.
"Our regional communities have been doing it tough to say the least which is why we are backing projects that will put people back in work, retain existing jobs and stimulate local economies with a focus on improving essential community infrastructure and industry development," Mr Barilaro said.
"The funds delivered for these important projects will put people in work sooner and deliver a variety of shovel-ready projects and programs that will make a genuine difference to the lives of people living in regional communities."
Applications for a share of $250 million can be submitted in the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund open round, which opened on October 27.
Grants of between $200,000 and $20million will be available to organisations through the open round, including councils, joint organisations, business chambers, charities, businesses and Local Aboriginal Land Councils to deliver successful projects.
For further information, including guidelines, visit www.nsw.gov.au/blerfund.
