Gannawarra Shire Council continues to assist the community as it recovers from the October-December 2022 floods.
This page is a resource for residents including details for road closures, support available to impacted residents and community events and activities.
NOTE: If you need assistance due to flooding, please phone Flood Recovery Hotline 1800 560 760 8am-6pm Monday-Friday or 10am-6pm weekends, or Council on (03) 5450 9333.
Since January 2023 Council has produced a publication outlining local recovery efforts and support available.
To view the latest edition of this publication, please click on the image above.
Have you been impacted by the floods in one of the following ways:
- Water has gone through your residence or property
- Water is or has surrounded your property, leading to isolation
- You have needed to evacuate, or have chosen to evacuate
- Your business has closed
- Your agricultural business has been impacted
If you have been impacted by one of the ways listed above or require assistance from Council for a similar situation, please contact Council during business hours on (03) 5450 9333.
Other information is available via the Fact Sheets and Newsletters, Emergency Relief Payments and Financial Support, and Support Available sections of this webpage.
Windermere Services phone calls
Winderemere Services is providing additional support to Gannawarra Shire Council as our communities begin to recover from the October 2022 floods.
On behalf of Council, Windermere staff will be calling residents who have registered with Council, with their friendly and understanding staff to help determine what assistance each resident needs and work with other agencies, including Council, to provide that support.
If you have any questions, please contact Council on (03) 5450 9333 during business hours.
Flood Recovery Hotline - 1800 560 760
Available daily from 7.30am to 7.30pm. The Flood Recovery Hotline can assist with navigating available support, clean-up efforts, and mental health and wellbeing support.
The following Council-managed roads are closed due to flood damage (information correct as of 2.45pm Wednesday, 24 May 2023):
- Doyle Road, Quambatook
- Knight Road, Quambatook
- Lake Charm-Quambatook Road (between Kerang-Lalbert and Kerang-Quambatook roads)
- Marshall Road, Wandella
- Violet Bank Road, Appin South (bridge over Loddon River is damaged)
- Walker Road, Dingwall (between Dip and Hawthorne roads)
- Wood Lane, Appin
Information regarding road closures can also be found via the VicTraffic website. To view this page, please click on the image below:
Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwater can take them to Council’s transfer stations at Cohuna, Kerang, Lalbert and Quambatook. For locations and operating hours, please click here.
Information regarding the disposal of sandbags can be found on the Environment Protection Authority Victoria website. To view this page, please click on the image below:
For the latest information regarding water quality for your area, please click on one of the images below:
Coliban Water (urban water supply for Cohuna, Leitchville and Macorna)
GWMWater (urban water supply for Lalbert and Quambatook)
Lower Murray Water (urban water supply for Kerang, Koondrook and Murrabit)
Goulburn-Murray Water blue-green algae alerts
Environment Protection Authority Victoria water quality
Environment Protection Authority Victoria is providing water quality results for 37 flood-impacted waterways, including the Loddon River at Kerang.
To view the latest results, please click on the image below.
River flow update
You can keep up to date with the latest flows by visiting Goulburn-Murray Water's Water Resources Information page. To view this page, click on the image below and complete the following steps:
- Select "System Status Report" under Report;
- Select "Murray" for flows along the Murray River and Gunbower Creek, or "Loddon" for flows along the Loddon River;
- Select "Streamflow"
- Select your location.
Council has developed Flood Support Factsheets outlining financial support available for people, businesses and farmers affected by the 2022 Victorian Floods.
Please click the images below to download the latest issue.
Emergency relief payment are available to help you to pay for your immediate needs, including emergency food, shelter, clothing, medication and accommodation, due to an emergency like the current floods.
Australian Government - Recovery Connect
The Australian Government's Recovery Connect page features information on all emergency relief payments available for flood-affected residents. This includes payments made available via the Australian Government, Victorian Government and other agencies.
For more information and to apply, please click on the image below.
For more information regarding funding available and to apply, phone the Services Australia Emergency Information Line on 180 22 66
Victorian Government
The Victorian Government is providing payments of up to $580 per adult and $290 per child (up to a maximum of $2030 per eligible family) for those impacted by the floods.
For more information and to apply, please phone the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 or email loddon.eoc@dffh.vic.gov.au
Financial support for flood-affected farmers
Agriculture Victoria is working with producers and industry in response to continuing flood events across parts of Victoria. This includes assisting producers with urgent animal welfare issues and assessing agricultural impacts to inform government of the support needs of producers.
Financial support available includes:
- Primary Producer Clean-Up Relief Grants: Grants of up to $75,000 to cover the cost of the clean-up and get businesses up and running again.
- Primary Producer Concessional Loans: Up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged equipment and infrastructure, or to cover the short-term business expenses.
- Rural Landholder Grants: Grants of up to $25,000 to cover the costs of disaster impacts for small-scale producers.
- Primary Producer Transport Subsidies: Up to $15,000 to support the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and the movement of livestock.
The deadline to apply for this support has been extended to Thursday, 13 July 2023.
For more information and to apply, please click on the image below.
Need for Feed
Farmers needing to access fodder for their livestock can apply for assistance from Need for Feed Australia. Established in 2006/07, this Lions International-supported initiative is recognised as the leading provider of emergency fodder at a state and national level by governments and other agencies.
For more information and to apply, please click on the image below:
Financial support for businesses and Community Sporting Clubs
The Business and Community Sport Flood Recovery Grants support businesses, and community sport and active recreation organisations directly affected by the Victorian floods that commenced in October 2022. Managed by Business Victoria, support includes:
- Up to $50,000 for businesses to cover expenses resulting from significant direct damage to an applicant’s property, assets, stock or equipment.
- A one-off $5,000 grant for community sport and active recreation organisations to cover expenses arising from significant direct damage to the organisation’s facility and its equipment.
For more information and to apply, please click on the image below:
Rural Financial Counselling Service support
RFCS Victoria West’s Small Business and Rural Financial Counsellors are available to assist farmers and small business owners navigate the range of flood relief grants and government support.
Team members can assist from the beginning to the end of the application process and support you through your flood recovery.
RFCS Victoria West also has a team of qualified Wellbeing Counsellors available to ensure anyone working with a financial counsellor is fully supported.
For more information, please phone 1300 735 578 or click on the image below:
Gannawarra Giving Account
The Gannawarra Giving Account has been reactivated to assist with the community’s recovery from the October-December 2022 floods.
Initially created by Northern District Community Health and the Gannawarra Resilience Committee - a group consisting of 28 agencies working together to ensure planned and coordinated community support across the Gannawarra Shire - the account will support initiatives that help rebuild community connections and assist individuals affected by the floods.
Managed by Northern District Community Health, all donations over $2 are tax deductible.
For more information or to donate, please click on the image below:
GIVIT
GIVIT is working with the State Government to manage donations of essential items and services for people impacted by floods across the state.
GIVIT is managing corporate and public offers of donations of items, services and funds for people impacted by floods across parts of Victoria through the GIVIT Storms and Flooding Appeal.
GIVIT works directly with councils, outreach teams, recovery organisations, charities, community groups and schools to identify exactly what’s needed to make sure people get what they need, when they need it.
If you are a charity, council, outreach team, recovery organisation, community group and you are assisting people in Victoria impacted by flooding, please register for free by clicking here. Once registered, you can request donations of items, vouchers and services to support the community.
Rural Aid
Volunteers from Rural Aid will be based in the Gannawarra from 21-27 May to assist with clean-up efforts. The schedule for this assistance is full.
Rural Aid can also assist with the following items:
Fodder: Rural Aid sources and delivers fodder for primary producers when there is a localised need for assistance.
Domestic Water: Rural Aid coordinates domestic water deliveries to assist farmers in need of household water. All farmers registered with Rural Aid can request a load of domestic water once per quarter, per farm. A local water carter will then to deliver a load of potable water directly to your house tank.
Farm Army: The Farm Army is a job posting platform for farmers and workers or volunteers. Farmers can post a variety of jobs on a volunteer or paid basis. They can also offer positions on a contra basis, where applicants work in exchange for meals and/or accommodation. Rural Aid provides the platform where farmers list jobs, but is not involved in the applicant selection process.
For more information regarding these services, please click on the image below:
BlazeAid
BlazeAid's dedicated volunteers are based in the Gannawarra to assist residents clean up and repair important agricultural assets, such as fencing.
For more information, please phone 0459 434 766, email Kerang@blazeaid.com.au or click on the image below:
Disposal of flood-affected waste
Residents impacted by the October-November 2022 floods can dispose of any flood-affected waste at Council's transfer stations free of charge. For locations and operating hours, please click here.
NOTE: Residents will be asked to provide a driver's licence or recent rates notice as proof the waste is from a designated flood-affected area of the municipality. Waste will also be inspected by Council staff to confirm it is flood-affected. Any items not flood-affected will incur a disposal fee.
Returning home safely
Gannawarra Shire Council has developed a fact sheet featuring tips to assist with cleaning up after a flood. This includes what to be aware of and how to dispose of contaminated sandbags. To view this fact sheet, please click on the image below:
The Victorian Department of Health has developed fact sheets regarding the following topics:
- What to do when returning home after a flood, including how to protect yourself and your family from possible injury, illness or disease.
- Mould - Minimising risks and cleaning up after floods
To view these fact sheets, please click on the images below:
Free structural assessment
Residents whose property has been affected by the October 2022 floods can register for a free structural assessment through the State Government. To register, please click on the image below:
Insurance advice
The Insurance Council of Australia website features a frequently asked questions section relating to cleaning up after disasters, such as floods. To view this page, please click on the image below:
Cleaning up your property safely
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria has developed a fact sheet regarding cleaning up your home and property safely following a flood event. To view this fact sheet, please click on the image below:
Farm waste management
The Environment Protection Authority Victoria has developed a fact sheet regarding cleaning up farm waste following a flood event. To view this fact sheet, please click on the image below:
Beware of asbestos
WorkSafe has developed a fact sheet regarding the dangers of asbestos-containing materials when cleaning up after a flood. To view this fact sheet, please click on the image below:
Farm-related information
Agriculture Victoria has developed a range of resources to assist farmers during the flood recovery process. For more information, click on the image below and visit the "What to do after a flood" or "Resources for farm recovery after flood" sections:
Information for tenants and landowners
Consumer Affairs Victoria has prepared information for tenants and landowners of properties impacted by the October 2022 floods. To view this fact sheets, please click on the image below:
Disaster legal assistance
Disaster Legal Help Victoria is available to answer any questions about your insurance, Services Australia payments, housing, family law or any other legal matters.
For more information, please click on the image below:
Council has developed a free skip bin collection service for rural residents whose primary place of residence was inundated or impacted by the floods.
Available to landowners/tenants who are uninsured for such a clean-up, registration is by phoning Council on (03) 5450 9333 or visiting Council's Customer Service Centres, located at Cohuna (open 10am-4pm weekdays) and Kerang (open 8.30am-5pm weekdays).
Residents who are eligible for this service can only use the skip bins to dispose of flood waste. This includes carpets, white goods, furniture and plasterboard. Items that cannot be placed in the skip include tyres and machinery, food waste, asbestos, hazardous waste, materials that can be recycled and contaminated fodder.
One skip bin between 12-18m3 will be delivered to the affected dwelling and available for use for a seven-day period. This includes one pick-up and collection service.
Who can access the flood debris skip bin service?
To be eligible for this service:
- Your property must be registered by Council's flood recovery team. This can be done by phoning Council on (03) 5450 9333 or visiting Council's Customer Service Centres, located at Cohuna (open 10am-4pm weekdays) and Kerang (open 8.30am-5pm weekdays).
- Your property must be a rural residential property with an impacted primary residence.
- Your property must be inundated or impacted by the October-November 2022 flood event/
- Your property must be located within the Gannawarra Shire.
It is recommended that a secondary impact assessment is completed prior to deliver to rule out potential hazards, such as asbestos.
Can I access this service if I am insured?
This service is primarily to help those who are uninsured. If you have home and/or contents insurance, you should talk to your insurers first.
If clean up of and around the rural residential primary place of residence is not included in your insurance policy, you are eligible to access this service.
When can a skip bin be delivered to my property?
Skips can be delivered from 14 December 2022 onwards.
Due to limited number of skip bins available in the region, priority will be given to those who have already requested this assistance, however requests will be accepted and added to a waiting list. We will require a minimum of three days' notice between requesting and delivery.
What if I run out of room in my skip? Can I have a second one?
Due to limited availability of the number of skips in the region, Council is only providing one skip per impacted primary place of residence.
Please contact Council as soon as possible to organise for the skip to be emptied for free.
How much waste will fit in the skip bin provided?
Skip bin sizes vary from 12-18m3. Please only fill to the water line as the contractor will not take it if overfilled.
I'm not able to load the skip myself. Who can I get to help me?
If you are unable to do the work themselves due to physical or mental health constraints, Council will assist in sourcing a volunteer or service group to help. Council staff cannot assist in undertaking clean-up work on your property.
What do I do if I have hazardous materials and/or recycling that can't go in the provided skip bin?
If you have hazardous waste or recycling items that need to be removed, please contact Council on (03) 5450 9333 to confirm a location to take it to, including our transfer stations. For locations and operating hours of our transfer stations, please click here.
It is recommended that a secondary impact assessment is completed prior to deliver to rule out potential hazards, such as asbestos.
Who is paying for this service?
Gannawarra Shire Council will be paying for the service delivery and the Victorian State Government will pay for the disposal of the flood-affected waste.
Should the contractor identify non flood-affected waste in the skip, the property owner or tenant will have to pay for disposal.
National Centre for Farmer Health
The National Centre for Farmer Health has developed a fact sheet for rural residents impacted by the October-December 2022 floods. To view this fact sheet, please click on the image below:
Mallee Family Care
Mallee Family care can provide Legal support, financial counselling and mental health referrals. For more information, please click on the image below (03) 5032 4479:
Northern District Community Health
Northern District Community Health provides a range of health services and support to the Gannawarra community. For more information, please click on the image below:
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Cross website features practical help and resources to use before, during and after emergencies. For more information, please click on the image below:
Council and Northern District Community Health have partnered to produce the Gannawarra Reflections video series, which highlights how residents were impacted by the October-December floods and how the community continues to support each other.
To view any of the videos, please click on the heading below.
Reedy Lake
Major flooding of the Loddon River and Wandella Creek inundated properties and left residents living between Kerang and Lake Charm isolated during the October-December 2022 floods.
In the first of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, Katrina talks about how she and her young family managed during this period.
Kerang
During October 2022 Kerang residents united to fill thousands of sandbags, which were used to protect properties and infrastructure across the Gannawarra.
In the second of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, Kerang Fire Brigade Captain, Ramon Steel talks about efforts undertaken to protect properties from major flooding of the Loddon River for a second time this century.
Quinn family farm
The October-December 2022 floods significantly impacted the Gannawarra's agricultural sector.
In the third of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, the Quinn family talk about how they and the community united to protect infrastructure and livestock from the floods.
Murrabit
Murrabit and district was significantly impacted by the October 2022 floods, with flows from the Loddon River cutting off Murrabit West and Benjeroop.
In the fourth of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, retired school principal, Neil Hopkins talks about how residents united during flood preparation efforts and how they are continuing to support each other during the recovery process.
Koondrook
The October-December 2022 floods were the first major flood event to impact Koondrook since 1975.
In the fifth of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, community leader, Bryan Goble and his son, Nathan talk about how the community looked to its leaders and emergency service personnel for guidance to prepare for increased flows from the Murray River and Gunbower Creek.
Cohuna
The Gannawarra's young people played a key role in assisting residents impacted by the October-December 2022 floods.
In the sixth of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, Cohuna Secondary College students and staff talk about how they were impacted by the floods and the role they played in supporting the community.
Quambatook
Knowledge and preparedness is important during flood events, with flood wardens located across the Gannawarra Shire playing a pivotal role.
In the final of the Gannawarra Reflections videos produced by Council and Northern District Community Health, local flood warden, Leo Parker talks about how Quambatook prepared for flooding along the Avoca River during October 2022, as well as how work undertaken after the 2011 floods protected the town 11 years later.
The Victorian Parliamentary Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee is investigating the state’s preparedness for and response to the October-December 2022 floods.
The inquiry will look into the flood event as a whole and the areas affected, and consider factors such as what caused or contributed to the Flood Event; emergency services; government policy; flood mitigation strategies; and the Victoria planning framework.
The Committee is calling for submissions, which are due Monday, 5 June 2023.
To learn more about the inquiry and to submit your feedback, please click here.
Council is working with the community to guide our recovery from the October-December 2022 floods.
To assist with these efforts, a Municipal Flood Recovery Plan has been developed, featuring close to 50 priority actions across 11 target areas.
To view the Gannawarra Municipal Recovery Plan, please click on the image below: