Exciting rebuild

By Melissa Meehan
THE next three years will be an exciting time for Marysville residents as the town is rebuilt.
Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority chairwoman Christine Nixon, during her visit to the fire-ravaged town last week, told the Mail it was an exciting time for the town as plans came together for the rebuilding phase.
“I think it is important that members of the community can have their say about how the town will be rebuilt,” she said.
“And being able to see the possibilities will also allow them to regain a stronger sense of community.
“Seeing the plans helps them rebuild their lives.”
Ms Nixon said the new Marysville was expected to be completed within three years, and she hoped the plans would bring residents back to the town.
“Marysville took 100 years to be what it was,” she said. “We want to get this right.”
She said community feedback on what was wanted from the rebuilding phase shaped the plans and was an important step in bringing people back.
“By being able to see what we are going to do we are hoping that people who were unsure whether they would stay here or move on will decide to stay,” she said.
“And those who have already left and feeling homesick will feel comfortable to come back.”
She said an important part of the rebuilding stage was not to rebuild what was gone, but to incorporate a new image as well as combining the charm of the town.