MADRA March 2022 News
Fuel Management
As people will have seen, mulching has been happening along the Western Front area in the last two weeks. Any logs remaining on the mulching site are available to the community for firewood – but you’ll need to be quick! This non-burn fuel management approach is much the same as the mulching carried out last year behind Terra Nova Drive. Similar non-burn treatments will be used for Mortimer’s Paddock and Shady Gully as those areas come up for work under the Joint Fuel Management Plans. MADRA and the Fuel Management Working Group will continue to advocate for adequate resources to be available for these essential works to be carried out as programmed.
Shire Matters
Meg Allen (Place Manager for Mallacoota) is reviewing some of the outstanding matters on our Recovery Plan and has found an opportunity to update some of our emergency management resources. First up is a look at the information sources that we as a community refer to: a review of the one-page Local Incident Management Plan (LIMP) and the development of a more detailed handbook outlining individual and agencies responsibilities before and after an emergency. Thanks go to Meg for being pro-active and helpful on these and other issues.
Discussions continue with relevant agencies about the future of the HUB. MADRA is advocating that it becomes a ‘mixed use’ venue with some ongoing funding available for recovery support until the end of the year.
MSEG Update
The Mallacoota Sustainable Energy Group worked in conjunction with EG Water on the s22kw and big battery project at the water treatment plant. A public launch and tour of the project is planned for mid-May – details to follow.
MSEG’s energies are now fully directed to the second major project, this time at the waste water treatment plant. Working closely with EG Water, MSEG are planning a ‘solar garden’ on the site of the now defunct AMSA tower. This solar farm will be community owned and run. Income from the power produced will be funnelled back into enlarging the farm as time goes on and increasing our local energy production. This is an exciting step along the way to Mallacoota being having a sustainable and resilient energy supply. Thanks go to EG Water for their partnership and to Bendigo Bank for their support.
MADRA has signed up with GIVIT
GIVIT is a national non-profit organisation matching generosity with genuine need through their online platform. GIVIT connects donors and community organisations to make sure people and communities get exactly what they need, when they need it. There is still this need for some basic requirements in our community post-bushfire. A local working group has been formed to help the generosity of GIVIT with ongoing local needs.
Far Easter Event
MADRA has joined with Boardriders and Coota Gathers for a Far Easter event on the 23rd of April and will contribute to the food costs. It’s for the whole community and there will be entertainment, food vans and family friendly things to do.
Save the date!
Other News
MADRA hopes to hold one of our April meetings in Genoa – plus a BBQ. More on this as plans are confirmed. MADRA regularly has guests at our fortnightly meetings to discuss projects, ideas and resources. At our next meeting, we hope to have Martin Butterfield giving us some insights from the ABS census data and MDBTA filling us in on what’s been happening – including the recent nature-based eco-tourism forum.
Next month, we’ll have an update on housing issues.