Visit the January 2026 Fire (Longwood) page for more information
Published on 01 September 2026
Murrindindi Shire Council is inviting community members to help shape the next phase of recovery by providing feedback on the Draft Murrindindi Municipal Recovery Plan for the January 2026 Bushfires.
Feedback closes on Thursday 17 September 2026.
Recovery began immediately after the fires and has continued since. Communities, volunteers, local halls and recovery hubs, Council, government agencies and service providers have worked together to support affected people and restore access to roads and properties, reopen key community facilities and provide practical recovery assistance.
The draft Plan builds on this work and reflects feedback gathered through recovery hubs, community meetings, recovery groups and direct engagement with affected residents over recent months. It also serves as a public record of the impacts of the January 2026 fires and provides a framework for medium and longer-term recovery across the Shire.
It includes actions for people and wellbeing, buildings and infrastructure, agriculture, business and the visitor economy, environment and biodiversity, Aboriginal culture and healing, and communication and advocacy.
The January fires caused deep and lasting impacts across Murrindindi Shire. One person lost his life, around 1,600 private properties were affected, and 217 homes were destroyed. Farms, livestock, wildlife, businesses, roads, bridges, the Great Victorian Rail Trail and the natural environment were also lost or severely damaged.
Mayor Cr Damien Gallagher said the draft Plan was an important opportunity to ensure the longer-term recovery effort reflects community priorities.
“Recovery did not start with this Plan and it will not end with it. An enormous amount of recovery work has taken place since January, led by fire-affected communities, volunteers, Council, agencies and recovery partners.
“This Plan is about listening carefully to what people have lived through, what they are still carrying, and what practical support is needed now and into the future,” Cr Gallagher said.
Council is asking people to check whether the Plan reflects their priorities, local needs and practical barriers. Feedback can be as detailed or as simple as people choose.
The Plan proposes that the Murrindindi Municipal Recovery Committee, which currently includes a range of government agencies, be expanded to include six community representatives.
These representatives will be appointed through an Expression of Interest process and will provide a link between the community and Council.
The Plan also proposes regular updates on recovery actions at quarterly Council meetings. Community members can continue to contact their local Councillor with any concerns or feedback about recovery efforts.
“Community representatives and local recovery groups will help us understand whether actions are making a practical difference, identify emerging needs and adjust our approach as circumstances change,” said Cr Gallagher.
People can read the draft Plan and provide feedback through Council’s engagement website at www.theloop.murrindindi.vic.gov.au/draftrecoveryplan.
Feedback can be provided online, at pop-ups, through established community groups across the fire-impacted area, or by attending online information sessions.
Come and chat to us in person at:
Printed copies of the Plan and printed feedback forms will also be available at the Yea and Alexandra Council offices.
Cr Gallagher said Council understood that providing feedback may be difficult for some people, particularly where the fires continue to affect daily life.
“Some people may want to share a lot, and others may only want to tell us one thing that would make a difference. Both are valuable,” Cr Gallagher said.
“The most important thing is that community members are heard respectfully, and that their feedback helps guide recovery decisions, advocacy and communication in the months and years ahead.”
Council will consider all feedback before the final Plan is presented to a Council meeting later this year. It will publish a What We Heard Report explaining the main themes, what changed and why some matters could not change.
Read the plan
Provide your feedback
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