New Community Hub Proposed To Support Recovery Efforts

The Recovery Hub is closing on Saturday 15 March, this is because the Emergency Hardship Assistance and Essential Services Hardship Assistance grants will be closing at 11.59pm on Friday 14 March 2025.

Chair of Recovery Mary Brown said, although it is closing, it does not mean demand is not still there. While the immediate emergency response is winding down, the need for assistance remains, prompting discussions on how to ensure continued access to vital services.

As part of the Disaster Management Group there are two phases, response and recovery.

The recovery phase includes four specialised subgroups: Human and Social, Infrastructure, Environment, and Economic. Each subgroup is chaired by a council member and includes relevant stakeholders.

The recovery process began with an initial meeting on February 14, shortly after the disaster, to assess the impact on the community. These findings were then relayed to the Master Recovery Group and they are responsible for developing a comprehensive Recovery Action Plan, setting short, medium, and long-term goals.

A proposed ‘Recovery Hub’ has been named as all short, medium and a long-term goals.

The proposed hub would act as a permanent point of contact for both the community and visiting agencies, allowing for better coordination of resources. The aim is not to replace existing services but to provide a centralised location where government agencies, financial counsellors, and wellness coaches can operate when they visit the area. This approach ensures continued connectivity between those in need and the organisations that can assist them.

A key issue identified is the lack of a dedicated meeting space for agencies providing assistance. Many organisations visit the area to offer support but operate without a clear, accessible location. As a result, people in need may struggle to find them. The proposed hub aims to bring these services under one roof, ensuring that the community knows exactly where to go for help.

While an official name is still being determined to avoid confusion with the existing community recovery hub at TAFE, the initiative aims to provide a much needed centralised location for information, resources, and support services.