Minderoo Foundation’s Fire Fund has today announced a significant collaboration with the New South Wales Government to deliver “recovery pods” to people rebuilding after the disastrous bushfire season.
Minderoo Foundation CEO Andrew Hagger joined NSW Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro today to announce the $5 million program, with funding to be contributed equally.
Minderoo Foundation’s Fire Fund will deliver and install up to 100 recovery pods manufactured by Australian Portable Camps in South Australia. A number of the recovery pods have already been successfully deployed to residents on Kangaroo Island.
Minderoo Foundation CEO Andrew Hagger said he was pleased to be able to join with the NSW Government to deliver this key recovery program to fire-affected communities.
“We supplied and installed recovery pods on Kangaroo Island to provide immediate support to impacted residents, but also as a proof-of-concept for wider deployment,” he said.
“We are pleased at their initial success and look forward to seeing this significant rollout across NSW.”
The recovery pods were developed to provide a practical base camp for work and temporary accommodation, while bushfire-affected families and individuals work towards longer term rebuilding. The design was based on feedback from impacted people in rural and remote locations who needed to stay on their properties while they rebuilt their rural infrastructure and their homes.
NSW Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said regional communities were still doing it tough following the devastating bushfire season and the recovery pods will go to those most in need according to agreed eligibility requirements.
A great initiative from @JohnBarilaroMP and @minderoo thinking outside the box to deliver more than 100 temporary housing pods for bushfire affected communities. VIDEO: Andrew Constance MP
“The temporary accommodation pods will be offered to people who have lost their homes, who want to stay in their own locality close to friends and family, and who desperately need a roof over their heads in the lead up to winter,” Mr Barilaro said.
“There are many local residents currently camping at local showgrounds, or on their own property, rather than staying in accommodation in nearby towns, and it is important we do all we can to support them in that choice.
“We want communities to be able to stay together as the clean-up and recovery continues.
“We must take care of our most vulnerable and this innovative temporary accommodation solution does just that. I thank Minderoo for partnering with us to provide these innovative pods to those in need.”
The 7.2m x 2.4m units are fully self-contained and come equipped with a 2,300 litre water tank. They can operate on the included 5 KVA generator or use a 15-amp external plug-and-play mains connection. Internally they have a toilet, shower and small open kitchen with a two-burner stove.
The recovery pods are not designed for long-term accommodation, they are intended to provide a solution in rural and remote areas devastated by recent bushfires as the rebuilding process is ongoing. Established by Andrew and Nicola Forrest in 2001, Minderoo Foundation are a modern philanthropic organisation seeking to break down barriers, innovate and drive positive, lasting change. Minderoo Foundation is proudly Australian, with seven key initiatives spanning from ocean research and ending slavery, to collaboration in cancer and community projects.
