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Northe Welcomes Appointment Of Latrobe Fencing Coordinator

After a lengthy wait, the Latrobe Valley has been appointed a fencing coordinator to help fire-affected farmers recover from Australia’s worst-ever natural disaster, The Nationals Member for Morwell Russell Northe said today.

By The Nationals’ Member for Morwell - 19th March 2009 - Back to News

Mr Northe, who today spoke on the issue in Parliament, said that the appointment of a fencing coordinator in the Latrobe Valley was long overdue.

"Fencing continues to be a major issue as communities rebuild and I find it incredulous that a fencing co-ordinator took so long to be appointed to the Latrobe Valley, when this was not the case in other bushfire affected regions in Victoria," Mr Northe said.

"I am glad that this anomaly has finally been addressed with the appointment of Gormandale Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) member Ben Thexton as the Latrobe Shire Fencing Coordinator. Now the community has some certainty into the future."

Mr Northe said that while those affected by the Boolarra and Churchill-Jeeralang bushfires were grateful for assistance afforded to them by various levels of Government, cracks in the system were causing some frustration.

"Recovery centres have served our community well and it is therefore imperative that an ‘on site’ presence is retained in bushfire affected regions," Mr Northe said.

"The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition believes the concept of a ‘one stop shop’ must be instigated to alleviate the stress and anxiety faced by many bushfire affected residents.

"These people are experiencing a myriad of paperwork and bureaucracy when attempting to digest the range of grants that might be applicable to their circumstance.

"We must ensure they are not left to work through this alone."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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