The State Government has made emergency relief payments available to flood victims for immediate household and essential needs.
Payments of up to $2030 per eligible family, including $580 per adult and $290 per child, are available through a one-off payment to help buy food, shelter, clothing and medication.
The Federal Government has also activated an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment, which is a lump-sum payment of $1000 per adult and $400 for each child under 16.
Flood-affected residents in Mitchell Shire are eligible for the payment. For more information and to apply for the one-off $1000 Disaster Recovery Payment visit, bit.ly/3TbAfwg.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced a $351 million package to help Victorian communities affected by the widespread flooding.
Since Wednesday, the Victorian State Emergency Service has received more than 4750 requests for assistance, including more than 500 flood rescues across the state.
Emergency warnings were still current yesterday for Shepparton, Murchison, Echuca, Kialla, Mooroopna, Orrvale and Charlton.
For residents who have had their homes damaged and are uninsured, the government will provide grants of up to $42,000 for clean-up, repairs, rebuilding and replacing household contents.
There will also be a $21 million package for case work support – helping flood victims with housing, health and wellbeing, financial and legal counselling, as well as help with applying for grants and help for business owners to navigate grants.
People can apply for State Government grants at emergencypayments.dffh.vic.gov.au or call 1800 226 226.
Member for Euroa Steph Ryan wrote to Mr Andrews on Saturday, asking him to declare a natural disaster to ensure financial assistance was not delayed to residents and businesses.
“I have spoken to at least a dozen businesses in the past 24 hours who are uninsured, not through lack of trying, but because they are unable to obtain it,” she said.
Ms Ryan also requested immediate help from Australian Defence Force personnel in Puckapunyal, for the State Government to immediately waive a landfill levy for flood-affected residents, and for urgent investment in road repairs.
Funding for councils
The State Government also announced a rapid response payment to 24 local governments across Victoria, including Mitchell Shire and Macedon Ranges councils.
The Council Flood Support Fund will provide councils immediate funding to start clean-up activities, and help restore local facilities and services such as sports clubs and community centres.
Clean-up activities supported through the fund include the collection and removal of debris deposited on council parks, reserves and community assets, transportation costs, staffing and restoration of community services.
“Local councils are on the frontline of recovery efforts – we’re giving them extra support so they can help their communities when they need it most,” Mr Andrews said.
“We’re at our best when we work together. Every level of government is ready to stand with local communities as we repair the damage that’s been done.”
Yesterday, Mr Andrews announced $165 million for an emergency road repair blitz across the state to help make the hardest-hit roads useable, and to repair bridges and rebuild roads that were washed away.
Since the beginning of the floods, 509 roads have been closed across Victoria and there were still 359 roads closed yesterday.
Mr Andrews said more funding would be needed for the widespread damage of roads across flood-affected areas in Victoria.
Crews began working to fix the Hume Freeway, among other major roads, on the weekend.
He also announced $150 million for a co-ordinated clean-up effort, allowing crews to move quickly into the worst-affected areas to undertake hazard assessment and demolition of any severely damaged structures.
There will also be $6 million for community recovery officers into flood-affected shires.
Federal Minister for Emergency Services Murray Watt was in Seymour on Sunday with Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jaclyn Symes.
Mr Watt said the focus was helping local residents and providing what the community needed.
“The Prime Minister has activated a range of disaster payments to support people in areas like Seymour, and as people we’ve met today have been saying this is the worst flood here since 1974 – it’s a big flood,” he said.
“As of today, we’ve got over 100 Defence Force personnel on the ground in Victoria, and we’re having discussions about whether more might be needed.
“There’s obviously a really big task ahead for this community.”
Mr Watt said the government had also activated the disaster recovery allowance to help employees and sole traders who have experienced a loss of income in the Mitchell Shire.
