Contractor appointed to bushfire clean-up
Contractor appointed to bushfire clean-up
27 February 2009
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — The State and Federal Governments have announced Grocon as the contractor to clear debris from bushfire sites.
More than 80,000 tonnes are expected to be cleared from properties, including more than 2,000 homes.
Grocon will do the clean-up at cost price and estimates it will take six months.
The interim head of the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority, Major General John Cantwell, says work will begin soon.
“It has been a big job and it’s wonderful that we’ve now got the prime contractor Grocon identified and it means we can really get on with the job of starting the clean-up,” he said.
“People are very anxious to get onto these properties. This is a great first step.”
Grocon says it will engage local contractors where possible to clear debris from bushfire sites.
Grocon’s chief executive officer, Daniel Grollo, says the company has set up a website where local contractors can register their availability.
“The family’s been touched – we’ve had holiday homes in the Kinglake area or the Kinglake West area for a long time. And the devastation there is horrific. So we’ve also been touched,” he said.
“A number of the employees of the company, like I guess many companies across Victoria, have also been personally touched in areas like Marysville and others.”
Premier John Brumby says the clean-up will cost tens of millions of dollars.
“They have also committed to using local contractors as far as is possible,” he said.
“In many areas, obviously there’s been a significant loss of jobs, and the more jobs that can be created locally with registered contractors, the better.”
