The bushfire season has struck Victoria, with unexpected sectors of the population employed to help. Photo: Engage Victoria, Victorian Government.
Victoria’s farmers are receiving help from an unexpected quarter, with Corrections Victoria’s Prison Industries supplying livestock feed and ground assistance to communities still suffering from recent fires.
More than 60 hay bales have been delivered from Langi Kal Kal Prison for distribution to local farmers impacted by recent blazes. Prisoners at the minimum-security prison helped to grow, cut, rake and bale the hay at the jail.
A further 110 hay bales have been provided to fire-affected communities at Longwood, aiding in restocking feed reserves after both paddocks and stored fodder were destroyed.
“Victorians always pull together in times of need, and I thank Corrections Victoria for their work in supporting our farmers affected by fires this summer,” Minister for Corrections Enver Erdogan said.
Beyond aid to agriculturists, prisoners across the state are helping with recovery efforts in which:
- Beechworth Correctional Centre is offering aid to local councils with timber clearing and re-fencing along the High Country Rail Trail.
- Crews from Langi Kal Kal have begun building new fencing in the Ripon district to help farmers contain their livestock.
- Loddon Prison is providing support to Mount Alexander Shire Council with fire recovery efforts in Harcourt.
Some of these actions are part of the Landmate program, which operates as a partnership between various agencies, including the Department of Justice and Community Safety and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Landmate operates across the Tarrengower, Beechworth, Langi Kal Kal and Hopkins prisons.
Under the program, supervised crews of inmates give back to their communities by maintaining recreational facilities, aiding with disaster recovery and providing support to environmental management projects.
Crews within 100 kilometres of bushfire-affected zones will be deployed on the ground to provide support over the next year, giving the prisoners a productive way to give back to the community.
“By providing practical help on the ground, we’re helping farmers get back on their feet faster and strengthening the partnerships that regional Victorians rely on,” Mr Erdogan said.
