By Parker McKenzie
Community members made their frustration with Yarra Ranges Council clear during a council meeting on Tuesday 13 December, over the decision to wind up the Storm Recovery Team and other issues related to disaster recovery following the June 2021 storm.
In a tense discussion over the council’s Municipal Recovery Plan, Sassafras local Liz Millman spoke to the agenda item and said her family’s home was destroyed on the night of the storm, and her family is still living in a rental home.
“I understand we are the first family to achieve, but with no building permission yet it’s just endless uncertainty and it’s all too slow,” she said.
“Too many of us are living every day with the second trauma of time dragging by, we feel overlooked. Some folks are valiantly battling against the regulations, and some give up, but the reason I’m here today is because of the invitation I had.
“You seem clearly unaware that so many of us, we’re still facing so many challenges, we feel invisible, so I came here to be visible.”
Ms Millman said she didn’t understand the council’s decision to wind up the recovery team.
“We haven’t had a dedicated or functioning Community Recovery Center and we feel that no one’s supporting or advocating on our behalf,” she said.
“My plea, along with other struggling storm-affected families, is Yarra Ranges Council respects our efforts and works with us listening to and supporting our needs, understanding our perspective with compassion as we crawl up the slippery slope still hurts our individual recoveries.”
Mayor Jim Child said Ms Millman is a passionate representation of her community.
“You pop up everywhere and you’re so passionate about your community and I thank you for that,” he said.
Councillors David Eastham and Tim Heenan also thanked Ms Millman for her advocacy.
“We’re not going anywhere, we’re 100 per cent behind you in lockstep,” Cr Heenan said.
“It’s frustratingly slow and some of that is caused by state regulation and it’s also caused by lack of funding.”
When Mayor Child asked if there were any other comments or questions from members of the council, community members began to shout comments from the gallery, including “why don’t you do your job?” and “why doesn’t council step up?”
“Is there anyone in the gallery wishing to speak to this item?” Mayor Child said in response to the comments.
One member of the gallery, Belinda Bernardini, came forward to speak.
“I’ve not actually been impacted, I’ve been very fortunate but as a resident, I believe we all have a moral obligation to look after our fellow residents and that’s what has been lacking over the last two years,” she said.
“It is of utmost importance that the council prepare for the worst but hope for the best, and this includes but is not limited to better land management, ensuring that as many of the 67 recommendations outlined in the 2009 Royal Commission report are implemented and providing for more autonomy in the management of the land upon which one lives.”
Mayor Child said the council has undertaken a great deal of work over the past 18 months.
“We are aware there are some residents managing complex issues within the Hills area and we will continue to advocate on their behalf to the state government and other agencies for continued support, that includes the Insurance Council too because these insurance companies have had something to answer for too.”
“Staff from council’s recovery team are being absorbed back into the organisation’s support for our community.”
The motion to pass the third version of the Municipal Recovery Plan was passed unanimously.
