Volunteer organisation BlazeAid says that repair and replacement of hundreds of kilometres of fencing is now complete, almost six months after the bushfires that devastated Coonabarabran. 53 homes were lost to the January bushfires and close to 60,000 hectares of land was burned.

BlazeAid exists to support farmers with re-building fences that have been damaged or burned after a natural disaster, such as fire or flood. BlazeAid Coordinator Laurie Dawson says that up to 1,000 volunteers can be working from 14 BlazeAid camps across Australia at any one time.

Dawson says that much has been achieved since the devastation and extensive damage left by the Coonabarabran fires. 520 volunteers have come through the camp, working on 76 properties over 6,000 volunteer days. The team helped clean up burned areas, washed curtains in smoke-affected houses, and many other tasks.

Dawson emphasises that while much has been achieved, a lot still remains to be done. He believes that, despite some recent rain, it will take Coonabarabran landholders years to realise a full recovery.

Source:  http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-07-01/blazeaid-builds-150km-of-new-fencing-after-fires/4792674