By Parker McKenzie
Yarra Ranges Council has established a Regional Community Recovery Committee for the Hills region and appointed 14 community members.
Four Regional Community Recovery Committees (RCRC) were established to cover the Hills, Urban, Valley and Upper Yarra areas of the Yarra Ranges municipality.
Each committee consists of community volunteers, a councillor delegate and a representative from Bendigo Community Bank with the aim of contributing towards the long-term recovery from the Covid-19 and the June storms.
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child said RCPC’s were vital in providing a conduit for community voices to be heard in the recovery planning.
“A key role of each Committee is recovery planning, which includes two-way communication and engagement with the community,” he said.
“The first-hand understanding and intelligence about each affected community that our RCRC members bring to the table is critical – both to support their communities and maximise the support available to the bushfire affected areas.”
The representatives were selected by Yarra Ranges Council after a public expression of interest period and an assessment process.
“That Council has set aside $800,000 to fund projects and initiatives that are recommended by the RCRCs indicates that Council is serious about recovery being community led.” Mayor Child said.
The RCRC were established by Yarra Ranges Council in partnership with Local Community Banks of the Yarra Ranges, Bendigo Bank and the Community Enterprise Foundation.
Deputy Mayor Cr Joanna Skelton, Burrinja Cultural Centre creative director Gareth Hart and 2012 Yarra Ranges Citizen of the Year Andrew Fullagar are a few of the people on the committee.
The full list of members of the Hills RCRC in alphabetical order is:
Amanda Lamont
Andrew Fullagar
Anna Reid
Belinda Young
Cameron Glover
Carolina Aguilera de Snow
David Vincent
Deborah Edge
Ellen Kimball
Gareth Hart
Jeanene Howard
Cr Johanna Skelton
Mick Spruhan
Peter Adams
