A team of seven Randwick City Council staff members is heading to the fire-affected community of Bega on the far south coast to assist with bushfire recovery efforts.

The cross-Council team left on Monday 20 January 2020 for a two-week stint at the south coast Council of Bega Valley to help out with recovery efforts.

The team members all individually volunteered for the opportunity to help out some Council colleagues in need.

“Earlier this month I spoke to the Mayors of a number of fire-affected communities throughout NSW offering Randwick Council’s support in any way that we can,” says Randwick Mayor Danny Said.

“These communities have suffered immensely over the previous months due to bushfire and the clean-up and recovery phase is going to have a significant and ongoing impact on these communities for months and years to come.

“Bega Valley Shire Council has accepted our offer of staff assistance and I am very pleased to be able to send seven Randwick Council staff members to Bega Valley Shire to assist with their recovery efforts.”

The Randwick team includes specialists in building surveying and certification, engineering, planning, communications and human resources.

“I’d like to thank the Randwick Council staff members who volunteered to help out: Andrew Murtha, Renee Schneider, Chelsea Hunter, Frank Liu, David Chesterfield, Karl Gray and Timothy Walsh.”

“I’m really proud of how everyone in the Randwick City community has rallied together to help out those in need. From our staff to surf clubs, community groups and charities and local businesses – so many people are digging deep to help others in their time of need.

“This shows the true Randwick spirit of Randwick and I wish the team well during their visit,” says Mayor Said.