Mike Kelly MP - Member for Eden Monaro ·
While we are all understandably focused on the covid 19 crisis I would like to update the community on the bush fire recovery news, as no doubt many affected members of our community are hoping this issue is not forgotten.
I participated in a phone hook up this morning with Dick Adams and the Southern NSW Recovery team. Dick and all his crew are now working remotely and from home. They have not been able to conduct physical meetings with Councils as the Councils are now also adhering to greater covid 19 restrictions. As expected all recovery centres are also now shut down unfortunately but work does continue on an “outreach model”.
Notwithstanding these limitations work does continue and it was pleasing to hear in particular that NSW are steadily rolling out the modular emergency accommodation for people who have lost homes. They have produced 100 of these pods and they are starting to be deploy these to Mogo and Cobargo, with the priority being to get people out of tents and caravans on their blocks. Production of the pods is getting up to 20 per week.
For anyone who needs this pod accommodation assistance let us know and we will provide you with an application form with information on how to proceed.
The clean up of waste work through the contractors Laing O’Rourke, is proceeding as planned as they have been classified as an essential service and operation.
Unfortunately there is now a shut down on travel and so many of our recovery plans for more festival activity to bridge through to the next tourism season can’t be pursued. We are better off not having large numbers of people circulating on the region right now and with the announcement of the government support packages for the covid 19 situation I hope that many of you will get the support you need to carry on. I particularly welcome the government responding to our calls for wage subsidies and a halt on evictions.
I know many of you will be feeling the intense pressure of these combined crises but if we continue to look out for each other we will make it through. In the meantime I will keep pushing for government support where we need it, to put forward ideas for longer term economic recovery and to make suggestions for how we can better deal these threats in the future.
UPDATE ON MY ELECTORATE OFFICES
Through this pandemic, both the Queanbeyan and Bega Electorate Offices will still be operating.
However, in line with advice from the Federal Government to prevent the spread of COVID-19, we have ceased face to face interactions until restrictions are lifted.
This measure is to protect the health of my team and make sure we can keep helping you. The best way to contact my office is to email mike.kelly.mp@aph.gov.au We will be checking emails and responding as quickly as possible. If you don’t have access to email, you can still call: - Queanbeyan 02 6284 2442 - Bega 02 6492 0542 Stay sanitised and sane!
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