Last round of bushfire grants to fund Tumut evacuation centre

More than $10.6 million has been allocated to Snowy Valleys Council to build an indoor sports centre and events facility that will double as an evacuation centre in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Snowy Valleys mayor James Hayes was thrilled that funding was allocated for the project. It is listed as a priority on the council's advocacy plan, which was written after the devastating bushfires of 2019-20 that burnt roughly 45 per cent of the LGA.

The centre is described as being an "indoor two court basketball facility" in the advocacy plan, with the building designed so that it can be expanded upon with additional facilities should further funding become available.

Cr Hayes said that the centre, although located in Tumut, would service the entire Snowy Valleys region in the event of emergency.

"When we evacuate Talbingo, they now have somewhere to go," he said.

"If we evacuate Batlow, they'll have somewhere to go."

IN OTHER NEWS:

Before the Dunns Road fire tore through towns such as Batlow and Tumbarumba, hundreds of residents evacuated to Tumut or Wagga. Emergency information sessions were hosted by the Rural Fire Service in Tumut at the Boy's Club Hall, but seating was so limited that people were lining up right out the doorway.

"It was one of the things where we had a real lack, we just didn't have that in the community," Cr Hayes said of the new centre.

"It's a wonderful thing."

It is too early to know when construction will start, but Cr Hayes hopes there will be progress by the end of this year - whether it be shovels in the ground, or a clear plan of action.

The million-dollar grant was part of more than $25 million allocated to the Snowy Valleys region via stage two of the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery (BLER) fund.

The Batlow fruit industry received an injection of $2.7 million through the fund and $4 million has been allocated for a 100km sculpture trail through the Snowy Valleys, as well as $1.9 million for a skills development program aimed at forest and timber businesses and workers.

More than $3.4 million will also be provided to Snowy Valleys Council - and three other fire-affected councils - to deliver bushfire recovery and preparedness services such as case management, connection to service providers and mental health support. Jointly funded by the federal and state government, this round of the BLER Fund has committed $283 million in total to 195 projects across the state.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: