General News
10 January, 2024
BREAKING Floods assistance funding confirmed for local communities
If you think you may be eligible for a relief payment, please visit an Emergency Relief Centre, or call your local council. You can search for your local council at vic. gov. au/know-your-council
THE FEDERAL and State Governments this evening confirmed jointly funded disaster assistance has been activated for communities impacted by the Victorian floods and storms since Christmas Eveunder the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Loddon Shire is one of 17 local government areas where assistance to communities and councils will be available.
Other areas include Greater Bendigo and Gannawarra.
The announcement said:
Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) is continuing to work with local councils to understand the assistance required to support communities following the floods and storms. Councils can notify ERV of impacts via the Claims Management System or emailndfa@justice.vic.gov.au. Further councils may be added in the coming days.
Eligible community members whose homes have been impacted by the Victorian Floods and Storms can access emergency relief assistance through the Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP) led through the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
You are eligible for a relief payment if you have unmet immediate relief needs and:
your principal place of residence is, or was, in an evacuation warning area, and the floods or storms have damaged your home; or
your home has flooded above the floor.
Assistance under the PHAP includes a one-off payment of $640 per adult and $320 per child up to a maximum of $2,240 per eligible family to help cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing, medication and accommodation. Payments are a fixed amount for each member of a household and are not calculated based on how much money you earn.
Support from the Albanese and Allan Labor Governments will also provide funding for Local Governments’ counter disaster operations, including making residential properties safe and habitable, and emergency works for urgent transport, infrastructure and public assets restoration.
If you think you may be eligible for a relief payment, please visit an Emergency Relief Centre, or call your local council. You can search for your local council atvic.gov.au/know-your-council.
If your business has been impacted, reference your insurance policies or contact your local council for support.
Information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government’s website atdisasterassist.gov.auand the VicEmergency websiteemergency.vic.gov.au/relief