The bushfires have taken a devastating toll on life, livelihoods, communities, livestock and wildlife in Australia. Australia’s property industry is contributing to bushfire relief and recovery in a variety of ways through financial and in-kind support.
“Our thoughts are with our fellow Australians who have been affected by the unprecedented bushfire disaster, as well as those who have been on the frontline fighting the fires and providing support to affected communities,” says the Property Council’s chief executive, Ken Morrison.
“It is heartening to see how our industry has joined with the rest of the community to extend support to their fellow Australians and our communities which have been affected.
“Our members have stepped forward to help by providing people, places and resources, and will continue to be there for the long process of recovery and reconstruction.
“We will be closely engaged with government and those leading the reconstruction effort to direct our support to where it is most needed and can be most effective,” Mr Morrison said.
More information on how to support these recovery efforts, including the opportunity to make donations, will be showcased at the upcoming series of events around Australia for the launch of the Office Market Report.
The following list includes some of the contributions made by Property Council members to date:
Scentre Group has donated $500,000 to the Salvation Army and additional in-kind support via the company’s digital screen and media network and community desks across its Westfield Living Centres. Scentre Group CEO Peter Allen announced that employees would be supported through its employee assistance program and that the company would match dollar-for-dollar any donations.
Vicinity Centres will contribute an initial $250,000, distributed evenly between the Salvation Army and Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. The package of assistance also includes community space at 60-plus centres, digital advertising, employee donation matching and support for staff volunteering in emergency services through paid leave.
Stockland managing director and CEO Mark Steinert announced a $250,000 donation to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and $250,000 for other organisations. Other initiatives include employee donation matching, free space for nominated charities and community space for counselling and small business services, in-centre digital advertising, and additional paid leave for voluntary firefighters.
Lendlease has made a $500,000 donation to Australian Red Cross and is matching employee donations up to $500,000 for donations made to Red Cross since 1 December 2019. Lendlease also convened a bushfire emergency committee to determine a longer-term assistance strategy to help affected communities.
QIC Global Real Estate has established donation points at its centres to support the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund. QIC teams across Australia are donating their time by staffing these donation points and volunteering on frontlines. Centres are also partnering with local community groups and leaders to raise funds, supplies and goodwill for those affected.
The GPT Group donated $200,000 to Australian Red Cross, Salvation Army and NSW Rural Fire Service. Staff donations have been matched, with two dollars for every dollar donated up to $50,000. GPT is supporting employees through emergency and community service leave programs.
Mirvac offered $500,000 to relief efforts and will match dollar-for-dollar all staff donations. Mirvac is also offering workers unlimited paid volunteer leave.
CBRE Australia is matching every staff dollar contributed, up to a maximum contribution from the CBRE Foundation of $215,000. CBRE has is also offering employee and family support.
Investa staff have been collecting donations on behalf of the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal. Investa is also offering unlimited, fully-paid emergency leave, temporary accommodation and other support options to any employees whose homes have been directly impacted by the bushfires, and to those volunteering. Investa is also matching employee donations dollar for dollar.
Charter Hall has made a $500,000 donation to provide immediate relief and to contribute to long-term recovery and renewal. Charter Hall is offering support for staff volunteering and extended paid leave for those impacted, and is dollar matching staff donations made to charitable and not-for profit organisations.
Frasers Property Australia has also made cash donations to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the Salvation Army. The company is offering unlimited paid volunteering leave for staff assisting with bushfire relief. The Frasers Property Foundation is matching all funds donated by staff to bushfire relief and recovery.
Dexus is providing paid leave to employees who are volunteering with the RFS or supporting communities impacted by the bushfires. The company is matching employee donations to organisations which are providing relief to affected communities as well as holding fundraising initiatives across Dexus office buildings, including a Foodbank drive held in December, with donations going to organisations that are supporting bushfire victims. Dexus is also providing space for charities to hold collections in shopping centres it manages around the country.
AVJennings has pledged $1 million through a $250,000 donation to the Red Cross and establishing the AVJennings Community Grants Fund with an initial commitment of $750,000 for the first three years. The company has also established a workplace volunteering program offering paid leave to undertake work in the community related to the bushfire crisis and associated community initiatives.