Communities struggling to recover from the devastating floods of October 2022 are missing out on crucial ongoing support from the State Government.
The Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad has urged the Minister for Emergency Services to take action to help the towns rebuild and recover.
Seventeen months after the floods, issues range from problems with temporary housing and insurance claims to ruined roads, culverts and bridges.
Ms Broad recently attended the 135th anniversary of the Salvation Army in Rochester. The service recognised the contribution of many locals who had gone to great lengths to help residents impacted by the floods.
“Nearly every home in Rochester was flooded and there are still hundreds of people living in caravans and sheds using a portaloo every day,” Ms Broad said.
“I was told that many of those still living in temporary accommodation desperately need the support of someone who could advocate on their behalf with insurance companies and building contractors in order to make progress. According to their website, Emergency Recovery Victoria was established to help towns rebuild and recover. I ask the minister to get staff on the ground to doorknock Rochester and help those who need it.”
Ms Broad said the Loddon Herald recently reported that multiple layers of red tape were holding up 900 flood recovery projects in the Loddon Shire.
“Just 10 per cent of projects – totalling $30 million – have been approved to fix damaged roads, culverts and bridges. There has been no approval since last October, and the shire will not be able to complete the works by the June 2025 deadline. The council has been questioned at every stage and continually asked to provide more evidence.”
“In Carisbrook – a town inundated by floodwaters in 2011 and again in 2022 – locals raised concerns that the works to levees and culverts made the floods even worse. I call on the Government to work with the local council to support the community and undertake an independent assessment of the Carisbrook levee plan.”
Ms Broad pointed out that the Victorian Upper House will sit in Echuca on April 18.
“Members of this chamber will visit for a day, but those who live in these communities live with the impact of the floods every day. While this government spends billions of dollars on city-based projects, I ask the minister to consider these smaller rural communities and provide the people and resources they still desperately need to recover and rebuild.”
Media Contact: Linda Barrow 0484 303 764 linda.barrow@parliament.vic.gov.au
