SENATOR ANNE URQUHART

Senator for Tasmania

Chief Government Whip in the Senate

MEDIA RELEASE

ASSISTANCE PROVIDED TO REBUILD NATIVE ANIMAL HOSPITAL AT WINGS WILDLIFE PARK

Up to $15 million in targeted funding is being made available to support councils, businesses, community groups and an animal hospital in areas significantly affected by the severe weather event in Tasmania on 13 and 14 October 2022.

Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart said, "Wing’s Wildlife Park will receive support from this funding, for the reconstruction of its not-for-profit native animal hospital, which was demolished after sustaining significant damage."

The only facility of its kind on the North-West Coast, the hospital will be able to continue caring for injured and orphaned native wildlife, and its contribution to a range of important environmental and conservation programs.

Senator Urquhart said, “I visited the park a few days following the devastating floods, which wreaked havoc on the facilities, and immediately spoke with my colleagues regarding funding assistance for the hospital. I am very excited to announce the funding will assist the facility to be rebuilt and continue the important work they do."

"Wings Wildlife Park is an amazing place to visit for locals, tourists and school groups and the hospital is an important part of the Park."

This extraordinary recovery support is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

This $15m funding is in addition to the range of assistance already available under the DRFA to help affected individuals, families, small businesses, primary producers, non-profit organisations and local councils with their recovery from the extreme weather event.

This announcement enables the Tasmanian Government to access assistance for the restoration of state and local government owned environmental, recreational and community assets.

The new funding also provides up to $2 million in grants for private landholders who are not primary producers to assist with the costs of cleaning up debris and repairing damage on their land. Further information on these grants will be made available in the New Year.

The Australian and Tasmanian governments will continue to work together to ensure flood-affected communities receive the support and assistance they need to recover.

Further information on the Community Recovery Fund and other assistance is available on the TasRECOVERY website at www.tasrecovery.com and the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au.

Tuesday, 3 January 2023

MEDIA CONTACT:

Senator Urquhart: Susan Wallace 0418 372 198