Areas affected by flash floods may be eligible for free clean-up program

Yarra Junction residents are entitled to hard waste collection. Picture: ON FILE

A $150 million state and federal co-ordinated clean-up program that includes removing flood debris and waste from kerbsides for residents and small businesses severely impacted by the 25 October and further flood events is available in eligible areas.

Yarra Ranges Council is facilitating the delivery of this service with information collected via a registration page. Registration is now available.

Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Jim Child said Council recognises that the flooding events around the municipality were significant and unprecedented for this time of the year and hopes that this collection

will help residents reduce some of the waste from their homes.

“This will take time,” he said.

“It has been a significant flood event. We are working closely with the State Government to ensure a targeted service is provided as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

This collection is only available to suburbs that were severely impacted by flash flooding with the majority of SES callouts attending the suburbs of Upwey, Tecoma, Seville, Yarra Junction and Lilydale.

Registrations close on 17 November 2022 and material will only be collected from the kerbside of properties within the suburbs registered for this collection.

The collection will commence on 21 November, and it is expected that it will take five days to collect the material.

In addition to the kerbside collection service, the State Government has announced that flood-affected communities will be assisted in cleaning up and recovering by removing charges to dispose of flood waste.

Community members can take flood waste directly to the Wesburn or Coldstream transfer station where the waste levy for flood waste and the gate fee usually charged by the site operator will be waived if residents provide identification and sign a declaration stating that the waste is due to the floods.

To register for the collection visit: e https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Council/Latest-news/Flash-and-riverine-flooding-October-2022

Residents can also register for a free structural assessment. Further information and registration as available at: https://www.vic.gov.au/2022-flood-recovery