The Victorian Government is supporting local communities across Hepburn, Moorabool and the Macedon Ranges following the catastrophic storms that have caused widespread damage and power outages.
Local member, Mary Anne Thomas said, “It has been inspiring to see how our community has come together during such a challenging time but as we know recovery is a long road. We’ll work with local councils and those in the community to ensure the process is as fast and efficient as possible.”
To bolster recovery efforts being undertaken by locals on the ground, the Government will provide $8.2 million to 10 councils across areas significantly affected by the recent flood and storms.
The Council Support Fund will ensure these councils have the recovery staff and expertise they need on the ground, helping them support dedicated local teams to coordinate and drive recovery efforts.
The Fund is designed to boost recovery capabilities within councils so activities like impact assessment and community engagement can be undertaken by community members who live in and understand their local areas.
It can be used to employ additional recovery staff, onboard specialist contractors and to provide targeted training support to help local communities recover.
The recent storms and floods have been devastating for Victorians. As of Sunday 20 June, initial assessments show 264 structures have been damaged or destroyed across the state. Of those, 129 homes are uninhabitable.
Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) have been coordinating the recovery effort and supporting affected communities. Recovery efforts have been progressing across all affected areas, with more than 1,000 emergency service personnel working around the clock.
A number of additional grants have also been established for affected households and businesses to get the necessary support during recovery.
More than 556 payments have already been made to people under the Personal Hardship Assistance Program, totalling $634,000.
For more information on assistance available, visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/#financial_assistance.
