The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund has made available a payment of up to $4000 per residential property to help residents in bushfire-affected areas meet the cost of assessing and removing hazardous trees on their private properties.

Both owner-occupiers and landlords can apply for this payment in order to make their property safe. Renters should notify their landlord of potentially hazardous trees and ask to have them assessed and treated.

Payment will be made based on an assessment from a qualified arborist confirming the trees are hazardous to human safety.  Applicants must provide a receipt for work completed and an arborist’s report to qualify for the payment (quotes will not be acceptable).

Indigo Shire Chief Executive Officer Brendan McGrath welcomed the move, and said there were many property owners in the shire who could be eligible for the funding.

“Within Indigo Shire, residents lost more than 150kms of fencing, with 40 residents directly impacted by the February bushfire,” Mr McGrath said.

“The potential for fire-damaged trees to cause new damage and further concern and distress to residents already affected is very real and this payment will help to ease the burden for many of our residents.

“Residents have up until December 31 to lodge a claim for the payment, which is only in relation to removal of hazardous trees burned in the Black Saturday fire and I urge anyone who thinks they may be eligible to make contact with the Bushfire Appeal Fund.”

An application form and fact sheet is available from the Bushfire Appeal website at www.dha.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal.

Further information is available by phoning 1800 180 213 or be emailing vicbushfireappealfund@dhs.vic.gov.au

For any assistance contact Indigo Shire Council on 03 5728 8000.