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. | |
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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. |
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A Fire Fund recovery pod arriving on-site on Kangaroo Island. Photo Credit: Fire Fund Team. 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. “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 Foundation 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. |