Wollondilly Council has provided funding for 33 bushfire impacted residents through the Bushfire Community Grants Program, with the funds going directly into the local economy.

A total of over $65,000 has been made available to spend at approved local suppliers to help restore bushfire affected residential land following the Green Wattle Creek Fire.

The program was sponsored by the Resilience NSW Bushfire Community Resilience and Recovery Fund and will allow Wollondilly’s most severely impacted residents to regenerate their gardens and buy items that will support native wildlife.

Approved purchases through the funding included plants, trees, grass, landscape supplies such as soil and mulch, small gardening equipment, watering systems and fauna breeding boxes.

Mayor Robert Khan said that the impact of the bushfires on the local environment was significant and that this funding was another positive step in the local recovery process.

“Many residents lost gardens and landscapes that they had spent years growing and nurturing, as well as the privacy that their gardens created,” he said.

“Wildlife that survived the fire faced changes to their natural habitat. The devastation to the environment, followed by periods of heavy rain has encouraged the growth of weeds as well an increase in pests.”

“It is great to see a program that will benefit residents, wildlife and local businesses all at once,” he said.