Tyler Redway
KINGSTON SE’s Keilira Precinct development was officially opened to the public this month, four years after the devastating Black Summer bushfires tore through the area.
In September 2019, Australia experienced one of its worst fire seasons on record as it destroyed an estimated 243,000 square kilometres of land and more than 3000 homes.
Keilira was one local region which was heavily affected by the disaster, losing 250 square kilometres of land, three homes, and the lives of 3000 sheep and 400 cattle.
The Keilira Precinct project came as a part of a $265,000 funding package which the Kingston District Council received from the Federal Government’s Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grant Program in 2020.
The funding allowed the Kingston District Council to create a new meeting area and clubhouse with additional upgrades to existing sporting facilities and the general area.
Kingston District Council community development officer Kristen Wilks said it was important for the community of Keilira to have a place to check in with each other after such a disastrous summer a few years ago.
“The community has been using the new facility probably since February and throughout its process as well,” Ms Wilks said.
“For the primary producers who live out that way, it’s a great way for them to meet up in one place and keep in touch with each other to see how they are going after the bushfires.
“It’s amazing to see such a good community outcome for the people who were heavily affected by the bushfires.”
Ms Wilks said the project had been in the works for more than two years before its official opening.
She said if it was needed, the Country Fire Service would be able to use the space as a “base of operations” in the event of another bushfire.
“The space has the ability to open up when required and it even got a new tennis court out there too,” she said.
“If the CFS ever needed to use it as a base heaven forbid if there was another bushfire, then there could be amenities there to do that.”
