Joint media release with the Hon Jaclyn Symes MLC
Flood-impacted Victorian Councils will receive further assistance from the Albanese and Andrews Governments to repair and rebuild essential public assets to a more resilient standard, to make communities more prepared for future disasters.
Fourteen of the most severely impacted councils from the October 2022 floods will receive funding through a $9.4 million Council Priority Betterment Program to improve the resilience of essential public assets like roads, bridges and footpaths damaged as a direct result of the flood event.
These councils are Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Loddon, Moira, Murrindindi, Benalla, Bendigo, Hepburn, Mildura, Pyrenees, Shepparton and Strathbogie.
The program is jointly-funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Key assets that help communities stay connected and reduce hardship during and after disasters, such as culverts and roads, will be prioritised.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the upgrades will be significant in helping communities prepare for future emergencies.
“Betterment works mean infrastructure can be built back using more resilient methods or materials, so they’re less likely to be impacted again by future natural disasters,” Minister Watt said.
“This is the first betterment program of its kind in Victoria, so I’m very pleased the Albanese Government is co-funding it.
“In addition to reducing the risk of disruptions to communities from disasters, we know that betterment programs like this one, delivered in other states, have demonstrated savings and avoided costs for all levels of government.”
Victorian Minister for Emergency Services Jaclyn Symes said the program was one step towards easing the burden on towns affected by natural disasters.
“This package is about building back better – so communities aren’t hit as hard by more frequent and severe weather events,” Minister Symes said.
“We welcome the Federal Government’s co-investment in this – we’ll continue backing communities and advocating for what they need to stay prepared and recover quicker from natural disasters.”
The councils receiving betterment funding allocations will be shortly notified of the allocations.
