With some services set to finish up in December, Yarra Ranges Council is calling on $19 million from the state government to support storm-impacted residents.
Ahead of the 26 November state election, Yarra Ranges Council is calling on the government to commit to extra funding for recovery support services to continue into 2023.
Planning consultants, mental health services and community connection programs have been provided to residents after Yarra Ranges Council submitted a business case to the state government after the June 2021 storm event,
Yarra Ranges Council Mayor Councillor Jim Child said the Recovery Support Service is still assisting many clients and people don’t fit their recovery into a
calendar.
“A key recommendation from the Melbourne University’s ‘10 Years Beyond Bushfire’ report identifies that a five-year framework for recovery from disasters is necessary as up to a quarter of
the impacted community can still be suffering with mental health and financial stress at this point, ” Cr Child said.
“We are only at the 18-month mark and we know that there are still some of our community suffering from this natural disaster.”
To date, Yarra Ranges Council has only received one planning application for a total rebuild.
The properties in the storm-impacted areas are often in complex locations needing septic tanks, bushfire protection measures and for some, the possibility of mitigating landslip risks.
Yarra Ranges Council has asked the state government to extend support to those residents yet to rebuild and for those people who are in alternative accommodation as many properties will not be re-established for several years.
“We have some people still not in their home and we have only just received the first planning application for rebuilding an entire home,” Cr Child said.
“We are also facing the complexity of the planning scheme in the Yarra Ranges and have started the process of gathering expert advice and reports on landslip risk, so we are able to assess and prepare for a Planning Scheme Amendment – similar to that of Colac-Otway Shire.”
Council is calling for further funds to assist community members with their rebuilds by providing
some certainty about what to do when/if insurance accommodation stops and to provide planning
consultants for rebuilds as was provided to others after bushfires.
“For some, the size and number of the trees that came down on their property were that large that they are unable to clean-up themselves and while there are some community groups that can help, they rely on volunteers and the size of the machinery needed makes this an expensive process,” Cr Child said.
“Habitat for Humanity have been doing an amazing job; however, they need more volunteers to keep up with the demand. We’re calling on members of the community outside the storm-impacted areas to come and help, no experience is necessary, just enthusiasm.”
Funds are still required for private property clean-ups in complex locations which are beyond the capabilities of community groups, with the the council calling on funds for the clean-up.
Funds to continue the employment of staff dedicated to the recovery of our community are needed to ensure that the connections and relationships, particularly with those complex cases, can continue.
Several successful activities have been organised for the local community, some of which have been community-led such as activities that took place for the first anniversary of the storm.
These activities promote connectedness which is known to be vital in helping a community to bond together after a natural disaster.
Some people are said to be just beginning to need additional services.
Cr Child said “It’s important that our residents who were impacted by the worst storm in the Dandenongs in recent history are not forgotten and that they are treated the same as any other person who has suffered from a natural disaster, be that flood, fire or storm”.
76 homes were left uninhabitable after the June 2021 storm event.
The state government was contacted for comment.
