11 December, 2024
It’s been five long years, but Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council has turned a corner with the opening of its new building, and NSWALC salutes the Mogo LALC board and CEO’s bravery and fight for the local Yuin community.
The opening represents a significant step in the journey of healing after the devastating 2019-20 bushfires, Mogo LALC CEO Linda Carlson said.
“Even before it was finished, the building was providing hope and showing people that we have a bright future,” Ms Carlson said.
She observed that the building will bring an “explosion” of art and cultural activities now opened, and will mark the resilience and resurrection of the local community in the aftermath of the bushfires.
Tragically along with many buildings in the community, the Mogo LALC building was destroyed in the Black Summer bushfires which swept through on December 31, 2019. Elders’ homes were also affected, and the mental and physical impact of the disaster was significant and ongoing.
If awards were being given out for courage, resilience and sheer hard work to get this rebuild off the ground, Mogo LALC would be well represented, fighting through bushfires, red tape, the Coronavirus pandemic, and then floods.
Around 300 people live in Mogo and the surrounding area. The Mogo Local Aboriginal Land Council plays a vital role for the local Yuin community in the town itself and across Broulee, Mossy Point, Batehaven, Malua Bay and Tomakin.
“This is a wonderful day for Mogo LALC and the local community,’’ Ms Carlson said.
“We’ve had the Community behind us every step of the way and our local artists are looking forward to having the opportunity to exhibit their work again.’’
Ms Carlson said a community member has been arriving at the site every day to take pictures and record the progress of the new building.
“I’m so proud of Mogo LALC and what they have achieved in the face of such adversity,’’ NSWALC South Coast Region Councillor Danny Chapman said.
“The Board and CEO have led the community during this awful time as we’ve come out of fires, floods and COVID. They have worked very hard and the rebuild of Mogo LALC was the absolute priority of the community.’’
Cr Chapman said the opening was an important step in the long healing process for the community.
“The building’s commercial kitchen and café space, meeting rooms and exhibition space will also provide another way for Mogo LALC to sustain its economic future.’’
Mogo LALC Chairperson Tayla Nye moved many to tears in her stirring address at the opening.
“The catastrophic 2019/2020 bushfires tore through our little town. Desperate for support and not knowing our next steps, we lean on each other. A silver lining in these dark times was the abundance of help that came flooding in from the wider community.
“With Australia doing its best to rebuild what had been lost all over the country, it was an uphill battle to get where we are now. I would like to thank project manager Tim Stubbs, the architect Sean Hogan, and the builder Nick Minato and his great team as well as Linda Carlson, CEO of Mogo LALC, and Tim Stevenson.
“This building is a showcase (of) how resilient the Mogo community is and how we have better days ahead. Like a phoenix from the ashes, we rise!”
Background
Plans for the new LALC office were submitted to the Eurobodalla Shire Council in June 2022 and included an exhibition space, cafe and meeting rooms which will be available for hire.
Construction has progressed quickly since the first sod was turned in July 2023. Local builder Nick Minato of South Building Co. led the project.
The rebuild was jointly funded by the Federal and NSW State governments who granted the LALC just over $2 million through the Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund. Funds from insurance and the Land Council also helped to initiate the project.
Additional funds were also provided to cover the increased costs of rebuilding in the current economic climate.
Here’s our yarn from June 2020:
Mogo’s Long Road to Bushfire Recovery Continues – NSW Aboriginal Land Council