Just over 60km from where the Longwood bushfire began, the Victorian Government announced funding to enable fire-affected communities to return home and ensure impacted roads are functional.

In Broadford on Thursday, January 15, MPs including Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes, Natural Disaster Recovery Minister Vicki Ward and Roads and Road Safety Minister Melissa Horne, revealed that the government would be investing about $37 million, alongside a $44 million joint state and federal government-funded investment, to restore and repair state roads and public transport infrastructure damaged by the recent bushfires.

The trio was joined by Victorian Emergency Management Commissioner Tim Wiebusch, who provided an update on the losses many regional Victorians had faced as a result of the Longwood bushfire.

“The most significant update overnight has been the Longwood fire, which (has covered) 137,000 hectares,” Mr Wiebusch said.

“We know now that there’s 173 homes that have been lost, that is up from what was 142 yesterday, and a further 12 homes that are significantly damaged.

“There are also 442 outbuildings that have been damaged or destroyed in that Longwood fire footprint.”

The funding announced is set to be used for repair of road surfaces, as well as critical roadside and safety infrastructure, including barriers, signage and vegetation.

It will also fund works to relieve the strain on roads from heavy machinery used for clearing.

“Roads are being used in ways that they aren’t usually used, so there’s challenges in terms of roadside debris, there’s challenges in terms of trees that could fall down in a moment’s notice,” Ms Ward said.

“There is the heavy use (of machinery) that we are seeing across roads, that are normally country roads connecting communities now seeing trucks, graders and a whole bunch of machinery used on them.”

Ms Horne said the investment would ensure those impacted by the significant amount of road closures due to the fires would be able to return to their community quicker.

“We’ve had 155 kilometres of our road network affected by fires. Of those, we’ve had 185 road closures, and many of those have been reopened, but we’ve still got 114 roads that are closed,” she said.

“What this money will do is start actually getting these roads up and running.

“We know, as soon as people can get back into their community, that is where they want to be able to go back in.”

Victorian Government contractors are undertaking works along routes including Murchison-Violet Town Rd, to ensure this detour of the Hume Hwy remains open, and the Department of Transport and Planning is also preparing for road pavement damage and repairs on roads such as the Murray Valley Hwy, Benalla-Tocumwal Rd and Shelley-Walwa Rd.

Ms Symes said the investment announcement and planned works would support regional Victorians.

“It’s no surprise, when the hardest times hit country Victoria, you see the best in people,” she said.

“As a government, we want to stand with those communities, and thank them for their efforts, including all of those hardworking volunteers.”

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