Minister for Emergency Services James ​​Merlino announced ​on Thursday that ​the funding w​ould be invested in long-term recovery activities in the Barwon​/​south-west region following the March fires.

The ​cash will support a range of key initiatives, including,​ providing additional staff to oversee recovery activities and support the work of local councils​, rehabilitation of land impacted by the fires​, an expanded weed management program in the fire-impacted areas​ and community events, outreach programs and other activities aimed at building community resilience and engagement​.​

​“We want to support all communities affected by natural disasters, both in the initial emergency response and during relief and recovery​,"  ​Mr Merlino said.

“Many people in the south-west of the state continue to be impacted by the St Patrick’s Day fires, so today’s announcement provides much-needed funding for a range of important projects and initiatives," he said.

​Member for Western Victoria Jaala Pulford said people impacted by the St Patrick’s Day fires had been working around the clock to restore some order to their lives.

"These funds recognise the significance of the event and the hard work of individuals, community organisations and local councils at the time and every day since," she said.

Th​e funding is in addition to the ​p​ersonal ​h​ardship ​a​ssistance ​p​ayments and ​e​mergency ​r​e-​e​stablishment ​a​ssistance – provided through the joint Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements – which were made available earlier this year.

Mr Merlino also announced ​on Thursday additional funding of almost $1.7 million for Colac Otway Shire, so the council c​ould complete stormwater reticulation works required following the 2015 Wye River-Separation Creek fires.

The​ works will limit erosion in the two towns, therefore significantly reducing the risk of landslides​, he said​.