One of Australia’s wealthiest people has chipped in a whopping $70 million towards the bushfire rebuild and was in town last Saturday to offer his team of expertise.
Fortescue Metal’s founder and non-executive chairman, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest, has pledged the money through his philanthropic Minderoo Foundation, to help communities rebuild after bushfires in Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.
Mr Forrest visited Mallacoota and then paid a visit to Bairnsdale, meeting with Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, East Gippsland Shire mayor, Cr John White, and chief executive officer, Anthony Basford.
Mr Bull said Mr Forrest offered personnel in the recovery phase, which will be led by council.
“He said to all of us anything we need in relation to personnel, for example with asbestos inspections, he could supply people,” Mr Bull said.
“He invited the shire to keep in touch with him and his team, particularly in relation to special projects.
“It’s an opportunity we don’t want to let slip.”
Mr Bull said Mr Forrest was very enthusiastic and had inspected the fire ground at Mallacoota before flying to Bairnsdale and landing at Bairnsdale City Oval.
At the one-hour meeting at the RSL he offered up the nine-member team he brought with him as contacts.
Another offer of support has come from Melbourne City Council, with the chief executive officer, Justin Hanney, offering staffing assistance and support to East Gippsland Shire for the recovery days ahead.
Mr Bull said Mr Hanney and Lord Mayor, Sally Capp, will travel to the area in the near future.
In terms of planning matters, Melbourne’s council has 60 planners and Mr Hanney said he could make a team available to help.
He said with all the rebuilding that needs to be done in the shire post-bushfires, the planning and approvals processes would be a heavy workload for council staff.
PICTURED: Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, had a meeting with mining magnate, Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest, last Saturday at the Bairnsdale RSL, along with East Gippsland Shire’s mayor, Cr John White, and chief executive officer, Anthony Basford, where Mr Forrest offered his team of personnel to help with the practical side of the recovery effort.
