Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell announced the funding commitment as part of a $3.5 million package delivered through the Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).
Campaspe Shire’s grant of $1,087,440 aims to increase the capacity of council and the community to prepare for, and respond to future flood-related disasters.
“Part of the project is the purchase of demountable barriers to protect key community facilities in Rochester rendered inoperable by the October 2022 flood,” Mr Birrell said.
“In Echuca the funding will achieve functional designs for the Stage 2 levees and works to maintain road access that was completely cut by floodwaters.”
As part of the review, a Flood Risk Management Plan will identify, evaluate, and recommend options for mitigation works.
Mr Birrell said the process had started on identifying works that could be done to mitigate future floods, particularly around Rochester.
“I continue to have regular discussions with government ministers about what will be required to better protect our communities in future,” he said.
“Every flood is different, and funding in the first round of the DRF will help councils and communities better understand what occurred and build a foundation of knowledge for developing projects to protect communities and critical infrastructure.”
A further $1,835,701 has been committed to strengthen disaster resilience in Campaspe and the Yarra Ranges.
The money has been committed to a partnership between Centre for Just Places, Eastern Community Legal Centre, ARC Justice and the Federal of Community Legal Centres Victoria.
It will engage up to 40 organisations in each region, including community service organisations, community legal services, health services, emergency management and local government, increasing the capacity and capability of local organisations to prepare for and respond collaboratively to disaster risks and hazards.
The project scales up a collaborative action planning process the Centre for Just Places first developed and tested in Melbourne’s west — a project that brought together more than 44 local community service and health organisations and local stakeholders, resulting in a Collaborative Action Plan, which was the first of its kind in Australia.
Also funded in the first round is $112,500 for the Numurkah Flood Mitigation Project — Stage 2 Southern Levee Design; $232,500 for Shepparton Mooroopna Flood Intelligence Mapping and $150,000 for a Flash Flooding and Storm Surges Strategy for Strathbogie Shire.
“In order to seek funding in future rounds we first have to understand the problems and the best solutions to put forward,” Mr Birrell said.
“The work from this funding round will inform bids for more significant funding in future rounds.”
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