General News
11 September, 2024
‘Extensive evidence’ to get flood money
THE STATE Government says extensive evidence is required for Loddon Shire flood repair work for it to be reimbursed by Canberra. Loddon Shire has been battling bureaucracy as it faces not meeting next June’s deadline to finish October 2022 flood...
THE STATE Government says extensive evidence is required for Loddon Shire flood repair work for it to be reimbursed by Canberra.
Loddon Shire has been battling bureaucracy as it faces not meeting next June’s deadline to finish October 2022 flood repair projects.
The council has had only three groups of projects approved this year with $22 million of works still to get the State Government’s tick.
Concerns about 2022 work delays were first raised with Premier Jacinta Allan by the Loddon Herald in January after the region was first hit in summer storms that wreaked havoc on Victoria.
The Government last Thursday said: “We are working with Loddon Shire Council to work through their claims and bring their costings approach in line with the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement guidelines.
“The Department of Transport and Planning and Emergency Recovery Victoria have been meeting with the council to identify their concerns and the department have also held workshops with council staff to help them with processing damage estimates.
“Certified estimates are currently being worked through by the department and ERV, in priority order as requested by Loddon Shire Council and will continue over the coming months.
“Currently under joint-funding arrangements, affected eligible councils bill the state for recovery funds, and the state then seeks reimbursement from the Federal Government.
“To access this money, council must provide an extensive assessment with evidence. This is necessary to ensure costs can be shared between the Victorian and Federal Governments,” a backgrounder from the State Government said.
A spokesperson said the State Government had successfully advocated to the Federal Government for other changes under the DRFA, including changes to how councils could use their own labour to undertake repairs, changes to plant and equipment hiring arrangements, and regular advance payments from the state to improve cash flow.
“We have stood with our flood-affected communities throughout this devastating event and will continue to do so, with nearly $2 billion dedicated by both the state and federal governments for recovery efforts.
“We’ve listened to Victorian councils who have told us that the biggest hurdle to getting recovery funding is overly bureaucratic ways to assess damages and submit claims under joint-funding arrangements.
“We’re working with the Federal Government to help money get to communities faster by reducing the burdensome red tape that councils have to go through to access funding,” the spokesperson said.