Communities in and around the NSW coastal town of Tathra will receive a $2 million dollar grant to help them clean up after a bushfire swept through almost 100 properties.
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The fire, which is believed to have started after branches hit powerlines on March 18, reduced swathes of bushland to ash along with more than 60 houses and dozens of caravans and cabins.
Fire crews cordoned off dozens of homes after it was discovered many contained asbestos.
Federal minister Angus Taylor said the more quickly the waste is removed, the sooner people can begin rebuilding their lives.
Already more than 4700 cubic metres of general waste and 5300 cubic metres of asbestos has been cleared, the NSW government says.
"Council, local agencies and contractors have worked hard to ensure waste from the fire has been processed and disposed of safely and efficiently," Emergency Services Minister Troy Grant said on Friday.
The grant, provided to Bega Valley Shire Council by the Commonwealth and NSW governments, will help council store potentially hazardous material from fire-affected properties.
"The government has teamed up with insurance companies and affected residents to remove the debris as quickly as possible," NSW cabinet minister and Bega MP Andrew Constance said.
Australian Associated Press
