Joint clean-up funding, more operational support and wider relief payment eligibility has been made available as tens of thousands of Victorians continue to deal with widespread flooding across the State.
Announced by Premier Daniel Andrews and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, joint Australian and Victorian Government funding has been made available to cover the cost of clean up for Victorians whose properties were destroyed or damaged in the floods.
“This first phase of the jointly funded clean-up program will be coordinated by Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) – with registrations already open,” Mr Andrews said.
“ERV will work with local contractors to demolish, remove and dispose of structures that were destroyed or damaged beyond repair by the floods,” he said.
“They will also remove hazards and debris that pose a threat to property or work crews.”
Mr Andrews said additional support from the Australian Defence Force had also been deployed to assist with clean up efforts.
He said emergency re-establishment payments had been activated to provide up to $43,850 for households without flood insurance, facing financial hardship, whose homes were damaged or destroyed to help pay for clean-up, emergency accommodation, repairsl, rebuilding and replacing essential household items.
“These grants are for residents whose homes are uninhabitable for more than a week – a situation many in Victoria’s hardest-hit communities are sadly facing,” the Premier said.
“About 50,000 homes, 14 hospitals and 300 schools and early childhood facilities have been identified within flood impacted areas in Victoria to date – these numbers are expected to grow as higher water levels travel downstream in the coming days.”
Mr Andrews said Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment’s had been extended to people in the local government areas (LGAs) of Benalla, Boroondara, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Moonee Valley, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi and Yarra.
The assistance was already available to those in the Campaspe, Greater Shepparton, Maribyrnong, Mitchell and Strathbogie LGAs.
Property owners can check their eligibility and register for the clean-up program at this PS News link.
