The Brumby Labor Government will help Victoria’s businesses, community infrastructure and tourism industry recover from the recent floods with targeted grants to help communities bounce back.
Treasurer John Lenders, the Chair of the Flood Recovery Ministerial Taskforce, today announced a $10.4 million interim response package to help businesses and communities adversely affected by the state’s worst floods in over a decade.
The package includes:
- $5 million to help restore eligible community infrastructure. Regional Development Victoria will administer grants of up to $300,000 and consult with local Councils and community groups to identify eligible infrastructure projects;
- a $5 million business recovery package to provide grants on a case-by-case basis to flood damaged businesses (including farm businesses). Grants of up to $15,000 for clean-up and restoration works will be administered by the Rural Finance Corporation with eligibility guidelines available on www.ruralfinance.com.au or through the Victorian Business help line on 132215;
- a $100,000 tourism and events package to assist affected councils in hosting key events to encourage visitors to their regions; and
- $300,000 to establish five flood recovery officer positions for six months to help councils to deal with the impact of the floods and the recovery process.
Inspecting flood damage at Creswick today, Mr Lenders said the interim package would focus on helping local communities, small business and primary producers. A second package will be delivered in the coming weeks.
“The Brumby Labor Government rose to the challenge of the floods just as we did with the February 2009 bushfires and the ongoing aftershocks from the Global Financial Crisis,” Mr Lenders said.
“The Ministerial taskforce has been out on the ground in affected areas listening to the concerns of the community and surveying the flood damage and clean-up efforts.
“In visits to the regions, task force members saw first-hand the tremendous efforts by community and volunteer support groups to help Victoria Police and emergency service agencies manage flood relief efforts.
“We’ve found that while these communities were remarkably well prepared for these floods, and will bounce back, assistance from the Brumby Labor Government will ensure this recovery happens as quickly as possible.
“As with all natural disasters, it will take some time to make a complete assessment of the damage to public and private assets but this initial package will make it easier for communities and businesses to get back up and running.”
“Restoring infrastructure, helping local businesses and encouraging Victorians to visit these fantastic areas in our State will go a long way towards ensuring the affected communities fully recover,” Mr Lenders said.
“Many communities affected by these floods were also hit by the devastating 2009 bushfires.
“Despite these challenges many areas are already back in action, including our Alpine Resorts which are fully accessible again thanks to the hard work of VicRoads. Although I do caution motorists to drive with caution in these areas.”
At the peak of flood activity there were more than 120 road closures due to flooding, rock falls, landslips, fallen trees and bridge damage. There are still around 35 local roads closed across the State and one arterial road (the Kiewa Valley Highway) remains closed for repairs.
VicRoads has worked around the clock to coordinate flood response and recovery efforts, including conducting inspections and implementing temporary repairs. They responded to over 7000 calls from the public and media seeking road closure information during the flood period.
Evaluation of damage to the road network is already underway across flood affected areas and in most cases repair works have already been completed.
Emergency relief grants of up to $1067 are still available for affected people to meet their basic needs, as well as personal hardship grants of up to $26,000 to help people whose homes have suffered significant structural damage, loss of contents and for extended temporary accommodation.