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Premier thanks Christine Nixon

Premier thanks Christine Nixon for service to bushfire recovery

The Premier, John Brumby, thanked Christine Nixon for her 18 months service to the Victorian Bushfires Recovery and Reconstruction Authority (VBRRA), saying she had proven to be the right person for the difficult job of helping communities heal and rebuild.

Mr Brumby said Ms Nixon had steered bushfire communities through the long and difficult process of rebuilding following the 2009 Black Saturday and Gippsland bushfires.

“Christine Nixon has helped bushfire communities rebuild after the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history,” Mr Brumby said.

“As well as focusing on the bricks and mortar of bushfire-affected communities, Ms Nixon’s tremendous compassion has been critical to helping communities recover.”

Mr Brumby said he received a letter from Ms Nixon late this week informing him of her intention to announce this weekend that she would step down as head of VBRRA today, but would serve as a voluntary advisor into the future.

“I spoke with Ms Nixon late yesterday about her decision and I thanked her for her service to the State of Victoria,” Mr Brumby said.

“It is often forgotten that when Ms Nixon was first approached to be Head of VBRRA, she had already announced her retirement as Chief Commissioner of Police.

“Ms Nixon willingly stepped forward to take on this difficult task and I am grateful to her for the work she has done.

“I wish Christine well in the future and I thank her for all she has done to help communities, families and individuals rebuild their lives.”

Mr Brumby said Christine and VBRRA have been crucial to helping fire-affected communities rebuild.

“As Head of VBRRA, she has been working with communities from across the state and they had made significant progress,” Mr Brumby said.

Since the bushfires, VBRRA has:
• Overseen the clean up of more than 3000 properties;
• Assisted in having more than 1900 building permits issued for people to rebuild their damaged or destroyed properties, businesses, and sheds;
• Provided over 1100 consultations to households in the process of rebuilding;
• Worked with volunteer groups to restore more than 7800 kms of fencing;
• Worked with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund to distribute more than $350 million in payments to individuals, businesses and communities; and
• Helped communities set up longer term rebuilding plans, backed by a $200m Government investment.