Murrindindi Bushfire Recovery
Murrindindi Shire · 2026-05-13
Turbo 360 filmed and produced a recovery story for Murrindindi Shire Council following the devastating 2026 Summer Fires — a call for fairer funding and lasting reform.
Some stories need to be told clearly, and told well. In May 2026, Turbo 360 travelled into Murrindindi Shire to film a recovery story for Murrindindi Shire Council — one that puts a real face to the devastation left behind by the 2026 Summer Fires and makes a direct call for funding support and systemic reform.
The Context
The January 2026 bushfires hit Murrindindi harder than anywhere else in Victoria. Almost one-third of the Shire was burnt, with more than 200 homes and 520 outbuildings destroyed across 22 localities, and around 450 kilometres of Council roads and dozens of bridges damaged. Emergency Management Victoria data shows Murrindindi suffered close to half of the State's structural losses in the January 2026 fires.
Despite the scale of impact, the funding response has not matched the need. Council confirmed it received about eight per cent of recovery funding, including the same $750,000 Council Support Fund allocation as most of the other 18 impacted councils. Council released a video highlighting the scale of devastation from the January 2026 bushfires, reinforcing its call for a more equitable and impact-based disaster recovery funding model — and the video supports Council's submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires, providing a clear account of the ongoing impacts on residents, primary producers, local businesses and the visitor economy.
That video is the one we made.
What We Covered
Our team worked across Murrindindi Shire, filming on location to document the real, lasting impact of the fires on the land, the roads, and the community. Drone footage was central to the shoot — giving viewers an aerial perspective of the scale of destruction that ground-level cameras simply cannot convey.
The brief was not just to document damage. It was to give voice to a community that has been through repeated disasters — a community that has now faced major disasters in 2009, 2022, 2023, 2024 and again in 2026 — and to make a clear, evidence-based case to government for fairer recovery funding.
Mayor Damien Gallagher put it directly:
"The 2026 Summer Fires have hurt. The depths of economic, social, and environmental trauma in our community is well understood here, because we've lived it, but we're not seeing the support we desperately need from Government. Our ask is very clear, and it's not just about recovery, but about building a stronger, more resilient future. It must happen together."
— Damien Gallagher, Mayor, Murrindindi Shire Council
What We Delivered
Turbo 360 handled the full production pipeline for Murrindindi Shire Council:
- On-location filming throughout the Shire, capturing ground-level and aerial footage of fire-affected areas
- Interviews and community storytelling to carry the human dimension of recovery
- Full post-production, including edit, colour grade and delivery of the finished piece
The finished video highlights the scale of devastation from the January 2026 bushfires and supports Council's submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Summer Fires, providing a clear account of the ongoing impacts on residents, primary producers, local businesses and the visitor economy.
Working on a project like this requires sensitivity as much as skill. Fire-affected landscapes present real logistical challenges — road closures, restricted access and emotionally charged environments. Our team approached every day on the ground with care for the community and a clear focus on telling the story authentically.
Why It Matters
Council's submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2026 Fires includes 15 recommendations to improve disaster preparedness, response and long-term recovery, with a key issue being the use of uniform funding allocations across councils — which Murrindindi argues does not adequately reflect the scale, geography and complexity of impacts between regions.
Video is one of the most powerful tools a community or organisation has when making the case for change. A well-crafted film puts decision-makers in the room, on the road, in the community — and makes the numbers real. We're proud to have played a part in helping Murrindindi Shire Council tell that story.
If your organisation needs video production that carries real weight, we'd love to help. Get in touch with the Turbo 360 team.