The approval of the 2026 Longwood Fire Recovery Plan was put to the vote at a council meeting on Monday, May 18.
Many of the councillors celebrated the effort that went into its creation.
“This is absolutely fantastic — what’s been put together here — I think it’s an exemplar for local government in terms of putting together a plan to manage the aftermath of a disaster like this,” Cr Nathan Clark said.
“It shows a very clear path forward.”
The plan is a 32-page document that includes the scale of impact of the summer fire, recovery goals and an action plan to achieve these goals.
Within Mitchell, the plan states that over 4700 hectares of land were burned.
It specifies that 11 dwellings, several outbuildings, over 4800 livestock and hundreds of kilometres of fencing were lost in the municipality as a result of the blaze.
Some 21km of council-managed roads was also impacted and significant environmental damage was sustained.
Cr Bob Humm spoke on his experience as a farmer battling a significant blaze, and said he hoped the action plan was carried out.
“I know how this can be a major issue on a lot of farmers with the loss of stock, I was lucky I didn’t lose mine,” he said.
“The plan itself sets out 65 actions, and I hope we keep an eye on all of those actions.
“To a lot of people who have been affected, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, so just keep pushing towards it.”
The 65 actions fall under five banners: people and wellbeing, environment and biodiversity, business and economy, Aboriginal culture and healing, and building and infrastructure.
Under each banner there are specific goals and steps to achieve those.
For example, “public infrastructure is restored and enhanced to support community wellbeing and future resilience” is a goal under the building and infrastructure banner, and “advocate for funding to conduct improvement works at Seymour Emergency Relief Centre” is an action under that goal.
Each action has various statuses and time frames, and some have already been completed.
Cr Andrea Pace said there was an urgency to some actions.
“This is still an ongoing issue,” she said.
“Coming into winter, we still have people who are not housed in the fire areas.
“We are working very closely with the other shires and the community to try to get things that are needed in time.”
Mitchell Shire Mayor John Dougall praised the work of council officers in putting the plan together.
“I particularly appreciate the work of the council officers to not only work with the community, but to put together a really impressive recovery plan,” he said.
The plan can be found by visiting mitchellshire.vic.gov.au/council/council-meetings/council-meetings/agendas-and-minutes
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