Council continues to support community with storm recovery
Published on 28 October 2024
Baw Baw Shire Council continues to support its community to recover from the significant impacts of the major windstorms that struck the Shire in August.
Council has provided assistance to 113 properties, of these approximately 50 properties within Baw Baw are still experiencing significant damage with ongoing clean-ups and wellbeing support required.
Baw Baw Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Mark Dupe said Council responded to 850 incidents involving significant damage resulting from the recent severe wind and storm events.
“The storm event in August took a toll on many households, residents and businesses throughout Baw Baw, and Council is still working with many of these people to assist them with their recovery,” Mr Dupe said.
“Overall, we had 31 different towns with reported building damage, which demonstrates the scale of this latest storm event and the toll it took Shire-wide.”
Directly after the major windstorms that left 8,000 households without power, some for up to one week, Council facilitated three relief pop-ups in Rawson, Trafalgar and Labertouche where representatives from Ausnet, the Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministries (VCC-EM), and Council attended. The Salvation Army also provided hot meals for many residents.
Council has provided green waste vouchers for impacted residents, and eight Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) referrals have been approved, totalling nearly $30,000.
Since 1978, GERF has funded emergency resources like food and shelter for Gippslanders impacted by natural disaster. This fund exists to support people from our region as they begin their road to recovery following extreme weather events.
Baw Baw Shire Council has been working closely with the State Government to ensure affected individuals, communities and businesses receive the assistance they need to recover and rebuild.
“Recent offers by the State Government to provide immediate part payment of many claims is a very positive step for our community,” Mr Dupe said.
“Council works to act quickly in each of these events to fix infrastructure, clear trees, open roads and ensure the safety, wellbeing and connectivity for community members affected by storm, flood or fire.
“We play a valuable frontline role in ensuring the community is well-supported by Government when it matters most.
“This work is essential and comes at great cost and with budgeting impacts magnified in major growth areas such as Baw Baw Shire, where we are already facing challenges to deliver the service and infrastructure needed to match our unprecedented growth.
“The offer we received last week to provide us with immediate part payment of many claims is a step in the right direction and is an example of us working with the State Government for better outcomes for our community.
“We are working on ways to simplify and standardise procedures for processing weather damage claims as well as seeking ways to foster greater coordination between ourselves and the State Government to pool resources, enabling a more efficient deployment of support services to affected areas.”