Disaster assistance for flood and fire-impacted communities in Victoria

Department of Home Affairs

​​​​​​​​​Joint media release with Jaclyn Symes MP

Disaster assistance has been made available to eight communities affected by the recent severe weather events in Victoria’s east, under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Flood and storm assistance is available for communities and councils in the Local Government Areas of
Baw Baw Shire, Benalla Rural City, East Gippsland Shire, Latrobe City, Mansfield Shire, Wangaratta Rural City, Wellington Shire and
Yarra Ranges Shire, who were impacted from Tuesday, 3 October.

Activation of these arrangements allows councils to undertake a range of relief and recovery activities, such as the establishment and operation of relief centres. The support also provides funding for counter disaster operations carried out by councils to make residential properties safe and habitable, and emergency works to urgently restore transport infrastructure and the reconstruction of essential public assets like roads, bridges and footpaths.

Additionally, emergency relief payments have been made available for people whose homes have been directly impacted in
East Gippsland Shire, Wangaratta Rural City and
Wellington Shire.

East Gippsland Shire and
Wellington Shire residents are also eligible for bushfire assistance, including emergency relief payments, relating to the bushfires from September 30.

/Public Release. View in full here.