Media Release by The Hon Bill Shorten MP

Marysville family off to a fresh start with a new home

Joint Media Release with:

  • Hon Richard Wynne MP, Victorian Housing Minister

Victorian Housing Minister Richard Wynne and Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten today paid tribute to a Marysville family for their determination to rebuild their lives after the tragic Black Saturday fires.

‘Widower Shane Hilder and his teenage children have shown incredible strength through a difficult 14 months. The family lost their home and their possessions during last February’s devastating fires,’ Mr Wynne said.

‘Thanks to the generosity and support of family and friends, Shane and his children were offered accommodation in the area while their new home at Falls Road was being built.’

Mr Wynne said the Hilder’s new home was among 11 new affordable homes being built in Marysville and Kinglake thanks to the Rudd Labor Government’s $2.4 million partnership with the Brumby Labor Government.

This partnership will see 4,500 new homes across Victoria built by 2012.

‘It’s fantastic to see Mr Hilder and his three children so happy in their new home. The past year of their lives has been very difficult and I imagine they have been looking forward to the stability, comfort and privacy of a new home,’ Mr Wynne said.

Federal Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction Bill Shorten said many bushfire survivors want to rebuild their lives here in Marysville.

‘The residents of this community lost so much on February 7th. We can’t turn the clock back, but we can help residents rebuild,’ Mr Shorten said.

”We will continue to stand up for the communities recovering from last year’s devastating bushfires and to ensure those in need of affordable housing are able to remain or return to Marysville and surrounding areas,’ Mr Shorten said.

Mr Wynne said work on the area’s new affordable homes was already underway and more residents would be able to move into houses that complied with the new Building Code’s Bushfire Attack level.

‘Providing work opportunities for local people in the area is another key element of the recovery process, so I am pleased these projects will generate about eight jobs in the local construction industry,’ Mr Wynne said.