Federal Government assistance for flood-affected regions
by Water Source
Disaster assistance is being provided to flood victims in 34 Victorian and South Australian local government areas.
Caused by the heaviest September rainfall in a century, flood waters across west Victoria have closed seven schools and 102 roads, and caused disruptive landslides along the Great Ocean Road.
Areas south-east of Adelaide also received record-breaking rainfall, with floods closing roads in the region, and damaging homes and businesses.
Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan announced the support would be rolled out through the jointly-funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).
"This activation of assistance demonstrates the commitment of the Australian and Victorian governments to support disaster affected communities," Keenan said.
"Our governments are working together to ensure that disaster-affected communities receive the necessary support to help them recover as soon as possible."
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said that emergency re-establishment grants were being made available in addition to the emergency relief assistance grants, which were available to all flood affected communities.
"These grants provide assistance to people whose homes have been flood damaged so that they can clean-up their properties and replace damaged contents," Andrews said.
Victorian Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino said the help on offer was extensive.
“A range of assistance is available to eligible individuals including personal hardship and distress assistance and financial and personal counselling,” he said.
“Assistance is also available for local councils to help with the cost of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets, such as roads and bridges, and removal of debris from homes to make them safe and habitable.”
The 22 Victorian local government areas receiving NDRRA assistance are: Ararat, Ballarat, Buloke, Central Goldfields, Colac Otway, Corangamite, Glenelg, Golden Plains, Hepburn, Horsham, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mitchell, Moorabool, Mount Alexander, Moyne, Northern Grampians, Pyrenees, Southern Grampians, Surf Coast, West Wimmera and Yarriambiack.
In South Australia eligible regions are: Alexandria, Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Burnside, Mitcham, Onkaparinga, Playford, Tea Tree Gully, Yankalilla, Kangaroo Island, Marion and Mount Barker.
