Published on 05 November 2026
Murrindindi Shire Council has adopted the Murrindindi Municipal Recovery Plan and Recovery Action Plan, providing a coordinated framework for the next stage of recovery from the January 2026 fires.
Importantly, recovery started while emergency agencies were still managing the fire front and will continue alongside the community, recovery partners and government and agencies for many years to come.
The Plans were adopted at Council’s meeting on 28 October 2026, following community consultation held between 27 August and 18 September 2026. The Murrindindi Municipal Recovery Plan is now presented in two volumes: the Recovery Strategy, which outlines the fire event, impacts and recovery strategies; and the Recovery Action Plan, which will be reviewed and updated throughout recovery.
Council received 19 formal submissions, as well as feedback through community conversations and discussions with local organisations, recovery partners and government agencies.
Feedback showed broad support for the overall direction of the Plans, while identifying areas requiring greater emphasis, clarification or practical action.
Key themes included people’s wellbeing, housing and rebuilding, environmental and biodiversity recovery, support for local businesses and primary producers, community preparedness, support for volunteers and community organisations, and regular, transparent recovery communication and reporting.
Murrindindi Shire Council Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher thanked everyone who contributed to the engagement process.
“Every submission represented time, thought and, in many cases, personal experience. We sincerely thank the residents, community organisations, volunteers, businesses and agencies who told us what was working, what was missing and what needed to be strengthened,” Cr Gallagher said.
“It is important that people can see themselves and their experiences reflected in these Plans. Community members understand their own recovery needs, the strengths of their towns and districts, and the barriers that may not always be visible to government.”
Feedback resulted in a range of changes to the Recovery Strategy and Recovery Action Plan. These included:
Submissions also highlighted the importance of helping displaced residents remain connected to their communities, rebuilding the Great Victorian Rail Trail, protecting important roadside and riparian environments, supporting community preparedness for future emergencies, and providing recovery information through both digital and printed channels.
Feedback received through the consultation has informed the Recovery Plan, and will also help inform other relevant Council planning, including the Municipal Emergency Management Plan and resilience planning.
“Recovery is not a simple or linear process, and it does not look the same for every person or every community,” Cr Gallagher said.
“The feedback helped us better recognise the breadth of that experience—from mental health and housing to farms, businesses, community connection, infrastructure and the natural environment.”
The Recovery Strategy and Recovery Action Plan are substantial documents. Their length reflects the scale and complexity of the fires, which affected approximately 1,600 private properties, destroyed 217 homes and caused widespread damage to farms, businesses, roads, bridges, community assets and the natural environment.
“These are lengthy Plans because the impact of the fires was immense and the recovery work will continue for some years,” Cr Gallagher said.
“The Recovery Plan is also an important public record. It documents what happened, the effects experienced across our Shire, the work undertaken during relief and early recovery, and the responsibilities and commitments that will guide the work still ahead.”
“This record matters, not only for transparency and accountability now, but also to ensure the experiences and lessons of the January 2026 fires are not lost.”
Implementation will be monitored through the Recovery Action Plan, with progress reported to Council quarterly and communicated regularly to the community. Actions will continue to be reviewed as needs change, new information emerges and recovery progresses.
The final Murrindindi Municipal Recovery Plan, Recovery Action Plan and What We Heard report are available at www.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/recoveryplans
ENDS
MSC Virtual Assistant