Mansfield Shire counts cost of busy bushfire season
Published on 02 March 2026
The impact of January’s Longwood Berry’s Lane fire on Mansfield Shire has now been tallied with 80 properties impacted to varying degrees.
While the scale of the impact on Mansfield Shire is dwarfed by the impact on Murrindindi and Strathbogie, our neighbouring shires, Mansfield Shire residents who have been impacted have endured the same trauma and face the same difficulties on the road to recovery as their neighbours across shire borders.
Mayor Cr Rabie wants fire-impacted residents of Mansfield Shire to know that Council remains determined to help people recover after a difficult summer.
“Council’s dedicated recovery team are still available to the community, they’re well equipped to off fire-impacted residents support and the assistance they need on the road to recovery,” he said.
“Council is working hard, in the background, to get the entire Shire back on track after these fires.”
While the Emergency Relief operation was ongoing open between 8-20 January:
- 1,030 individuals attended the Mansfield Emergency Relief Centre between 8-20 January
- 27 people stayed at the relief centre overnight on the first weekend of the fire
- 73 individuals were helped with emergency accommodation locally by relief centre staff.
In true Mansfield Shire fashion (this community loves its animals) the Emergency Relief Centres for animals were attended by:
- 57 horses
- 12 chickens
- 45 sheep
- 36 cattle
- 26 dogs
- 4 cats
- 2 guinea pigs
- 80 human owners
By the end of January, there had been 222 emergency relief payments issued to Mansfield Shire residents totalling $276,760.
Agriculture Victoria has provided a set of estimates for the agricultural losses suffered in Mansfield Shire.
- Total farm area impacted – 2637Ha
- Hay/Silage lost – 52t
- Grazing pasture lost – 2046Ha
- Hay shed lost – 1
- Machinery shed lost – 2
- Irrigation pumps lost – 4
- Tractors lost – 1
- Fencing lost internally – 307.5km
- Fencing lost externally – 205km
- Fencing lost Crown boundary – 102km
- Dairy impacted - 30
- Beef impacted – 38
- Sheep impacted – 557
- Poultry impacted – 2
- Bee hives impacted - 10
Given the Longwood fire took place during what is traditionally a busy period for tourism in the region, Mansfield Shire Council undertook a business impact study to assess how the fire had affected the shire.
More than 100 local businesses took part in the survey. The results reveal they have lost, on average, 70 percent of the income they expected during the period in which the fire remained burning and the roads were closed.
The complex and interconnected nature of the impacts of bushfires and recovery from such events mean the losses are likely to have a long tail for some businesses, especially in the agricultural sector where fences, feed, equipment and stock have been lost in large numbers.
“It has been a really tough run for the businesses of Mansfield Shire,” Mayor Rabie said.
“The fires and the road closures have taken a heavy toll at what is traditionally the most productive time of the year for our region. Our businesses go a long way to making Mansfield Shire the great place it is, they deserve our respect and our support.”
“I encourage you all to consider spending your money at local businesses while they look to bounce back.”
Early estimates, thought to be somewhat conservative, put Mansfield Shire’s losses due to the Longwood fire at $8-10m.
Alpine Resorts Victoria has also reported low visitor numbers and cancellations on Mt Buller and Mt Stirling due to the road closures and impacts of the fires on communities.
On 25 February 2026 a community meeting was held at Woods Point in the south of Mansfield Shire after the Gaffneys Creek fire burned 1200 hectares of thick bush in the last week.
Impact assessments are ongoing, early unconfirmed reports suggest at least one home has been destroyed by the Gaffney’s Creek fire.