Tuesday, 8 March 2022

Northern Victoria Region

Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:15): (1663) My constituency question is to the Minister for Emergency Services on behalf of the Yarra Ranges council. It is eight months since the storm event that caused extensive damage and traumatised much of this community. Yarra Ranges is still very much in the response phase, and it estimates recovery will take five years and cost $65.4 million. Funding support has not come through and local government capacity is severely challenged. Council have been advised recovery funding will be announced through the state budget so have to make plans without knowing how much they will be allocated. The top issues they immediately need addressed include $2 million from the Council Support Fund to secure and continue key roles, $3.5 million for the two main community groups helping private property clean-up and timber salvage and just over $3 million for resilience employment support and broadscale geotechnical assessments. So my question is: will the government confirm and provide this immediate support to Yarra Ranges council?