Joint clean-up funding, more operational support and wider relief payment eligibility has been made available as tens of thousands of Victorians continue to deal with widespread flooding across the state.
Victorians whose properties are destroyed or damaged in the floods can have their properties cleared of hazards, and made safe, at no cost thanks to joint funding from the Australian and Victorian Governments.
Clean-up assistance is being provided through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements with an initial investment of $150 million to prioritise hazard assessments and clean-up.
This first phase of the jointly funded clean-up program will be coordinated by Emergency Recovery Victoria with registrations already open.
ERV will work with local contractors to demolish, remove and dispose of structures that were destroyed or damaged beyond repair by the floods.
They will also remove hazards and debris that pose a threat to property or work crews.
Additional ADF support has also been deployed to assist in the clean-up.
Emergency re-establishment payments have also been activated, providing up to $43,850 for households without flood insurance, facing financial hardship, whose homes have been damaged or destroyed to help pay for clean-up, emergency accommodation, repairs, rebuilding and replacing essential household items.
These grants are for residents whose homes are uninhabitable for more than a week – a situation many in Victoria’s hardest-hit communities are facing.
About 50,000 homes, 14 hospitals and 300 schools and early childhood facilities have been identified within flood impacted areas in Victoria to date. These numbers are expected to grow as higher water levels travel downstream in the coming days.
In addition, the Federal Government’s one-off, non-means tested Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child has been made available to people who live in the Mt Alexander Shire and some other LGAs.
Activation of these arrangements allows more councils to claim expenses from the joint State and Commonwealth funding for a range of activities including early relief and recovery activities such as the establishment and operation of Relief Centres, the removal of debris from residential properties and emergency works to urgently restore an essential public asset. Activation across additional councils will occur as impacts of the floods are understood.
For support with payments, clean-up or any other flood issues, Victorians can contact the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
Our flood coverage remains free to read. Please consider supporting the Castlemaine Mail’s local journalism with a digital subscription.
Flood waste tip fees waived
The waste levy for flood waste will be completely waived, and landfill operator gate fees covered, in flood-affected local areas including Macedon Ranges and Mt Alexander shires until the end of the year to snsure all flood waste can be disposed of at landfill free of charge.
In collaboration with councils and the waste industry, the government will work to ensure that all impacted communities have access to a facility or site to dispose of their waste quickly and safely.
The waste levy for flood waste and the gate fee usually charged by the site operator will be waived for the following 46 worst-affected local government areas until December 31.
The rebates will make sure all flood waste can be disposed of at landfill free of charge, with the waste levy usually between $62.95 per tonne and $125.90 per tonne, depending on the type of waste and the location of the landfill.
The Environment Protection Authority will work with councils and landfill operators to implement the waste levy waiver.
It is projected that 300,000 tonnes of waste will be sent to landfill as a result of this month’s floods.
SES to the fore
Victoria State Emergency Service volunteers are among the agencies providing emergency assistance to flood affected communities
Victoria Emergency Service volunteers provide support to communities 24 hours a day seven days a week 365 days a year. SES volunteers have been on the ground providing flood preparedness advice directly to households at risk before floods occurring. They have been working in their communities to provide sandbagging support and putting their lives on the line working with other emergency service personnel to rescue people and their pets when they have been isolated by floodwater. VICSES volunteers ask that community members heed emergency advice to prepare, evacuate if advised to do so and to never drive on flooded roads.
For advice on how to prepare for floods and to find your local flood guide visit ses.vic.gov.au
For flood and storm emergency assistance call 132 500.
Financial support extended
The Australian Government has extended support for people affected by floods making the one-off, non-means tested Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment available to more local communities.
In Victoria, the payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child is now available to people who live in Mount Alexander Shire.
“People are doing it really tough at the moment and that’s why we’ve acted really quickly to try to get flood payments out the door to people to try to help them get back on their feet,” federal MP Lisa Chesters said.
“Yesterday, my office received calls from residents living in Redesdale and Heathcote who have been severely impacted by these floods. Today, we have announced more support for them.
“Local communities across Greater Bendigo and Mount Alexander are doing it tough right now, and this modest payment will ensure those impacted can meet their immediate needs.
“This support is on top of the already announced access that locals have to the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance. This allowance aims to help employees and sole traders who have experienced a loss of income.”
People affected by the flooding can check their eligibility for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance on the Services Australia website at servicesaustralia.gov.au/disasterevents before lodging a claim for assistance.
If people need additional support to claim, they can call the Australian Government Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66.
CFA pitches in
Local Country Fire Authority volunteers made up a number of emergency strike teams that were deployed to Echuca and Rochester last week.
Those to put their hands up to help make both towns ‘flood safe’ from rising flood and river waters included CFA members from the Macedon Ranges area’s Mountain Group and Coliban Group brigades. While three long days were put in by many members, those with work commitments volunteered what time they could to help make the towns safe from expected further rising waters from flood run-off and the Campaspe and Murray Rivers.
Sandbagging was the order of the day with long, high walls built by the volunteers.
In areas where a clean up could begin, in parts of Rochester for example, CFA volunteers were busy helping business and home owners with that ordeal, too.
Our flood coverage remains free to read. Please consider supporting the Castlemaine Mail’s local journalism with a digital subscription.
