Macedon Ranges council and communities will be able to access disaster assistance following the Victorian floods and storms that commenced on December 24, 2023.
In a joint announcement on January 11, the federal and state government said they would provide this funding through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) for 17 local government areas.
Emergency Management minister Murray Watt said this type of support is designed to help people meet immediate needs like food and clothing.
“We’ll continue to work with the Victorian government to make sure assistance gets to where it’s needed,” he said.
“I want to assure those affected that we are working as quickly as possible to make assistance available and I want to thank emergency services personnel and volunteers for their efforts.
“Although the majority of the floodwaters have peaked and the forecast is for conditions to ease over the coming days, the impact on communities will be long-lasting and we will continue to work closely to support recovery efforts.”
Eligible community members whose homes have been impacted can access emergency relief assistance through the Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP), led through the Victorian Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
Residents are eligible for a relief payment if they have unmet immediate relief needs and their principal place of residence is, or was, in an evacuation warning area, and the floods or storms have damaged their home or has flooded above the floor.
PHAP assistance includes a one-off payment of $640 per adult and $320 per child, and up to $2240 per eligible family to help cover 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.
Funding for local governments’ counter disaster operations will include making residential properties safe and habitable, and emergency works for urgent transport, infrastructure and public assets restoration.
Details: disasterassist.gov.au and emergency.vic.gov.au/relief
