Council advocating for community's needs during flood emergency
Published on 24 November 2022
Gannawarra Shire Council is actively advocating for additional assistance as the October 2022 floods continue to impact the municipality.
With the flood emergency entering a seventh week, Council continues to work alongside all levels of government and other support agencies to navigate the response and recovery phases.
“Our communities are facing different challenges during what is now the second month of this flood emergency. For some, the recovery process is underway, whilst for others efforts are still occurring to protect properties from inundation,” Council Chief Executive Officer, Tom O’Reilly said.
“Although assessments regarding the financial impact these floods have had on the Gannawarra are continuing, we expect the damage bill to go into the tens of millions of dollars, meaning we need additional personnel on the ground to help our residents.”
“We are advocating on a daily basis with emergency services and government agencies to secure additional ongoing support to assist with our residents’ social, emotional and physical recovery from these floods for the months and years ahead.”
Information provided by residents impacted via the “Have you been impacted by the floods” section at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/floods and from people who have visited Council’s Council’s Community Emergency Relief Hubs at Cohuna and Kerang is assisting with these advocacy efforts.
“This information is helping Council connect residents with the right support needed to assist with the recovery journey, and also assisting us in advocating to all levels of government for what support our communities need. This includes repairs to infrastructure, such as roads and bridges; but importantly ongoing physical wellbeing and mental health support,” Mr O’Reilly said.
“Council is also continuing to investigate what specific relief it can directly provide and we will communicate this information once confirmed.”
For more information regarding support available, please visit Council’s online flood emergency portal, located at www.gsc.vic.gov.au/floods. This page includes fact sheets outlining what assistance is available, links to relief payments and grants, and information that may assist during recovery and cleaning up efforts.