A modular approach

Following the 2019-2020 bushfires, in a first for Australia, high-quality modular housing manufactured in Victoria were provided as bridge between emergency accommodation and a permanent rebuild.

John and Carole Kinniburgh from Sarsfield lost their house in the fires. When they moved into rental accommodation a while away from their property, they “had to make the trek back every day” to feed the animals and take care of things.

In September 2020, they moved into modular housing, where they stayed until the rebuild of their permanent home was complete on May 2022.

John said the short-term new home meant “we could be on site, relax and watch the building take place.”

The short-term modular housing program was a way for people who lost their houses in the fires to live in brand new, comfortable and secure homes, back on their land and in their community, while they rebuilt.

The homes were delivered straight to sites, connected up to services and came fully-furnished with the support of charitable organisations such as GIVIT.

The program was funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.

This article was written for Stories of Bushfire Recovery and supplied by Emergency Recovery Victoria.