Campaspe shire plans flood recovery centre

Campaspe Shire’s recovery centre is expected to offer Rochester district residents assistance on a number of fronts, including information on any changes to shire services and advice on flood-relief financial assistance — now available through the state and federal governments.

Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh had been involved in weekend conversations about the establishment of a state government-run centre with Rochester business leaders on Sunday.

Premier Dan Andrews announced on Friday that a one-off emergency payment would be made available to those directly impacted by the floods, in regional and metro areas of the state.

That was followed by an announcement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday that further financial support would be made available to select Local Government Areas, including Campaspe.

In all, 23 local government areas were eligible for the state flood-relief payments, while a handful also qualified for the Federal Government payment.

The Federal Government payment is a non-means tested $1000 payment for each adult and $400 for each child in the affected area.

Victorian emergency relief assistance payments of $560 for each adult and $280 a child — a maximum of just over $2000 for a family — are now available for those who have been displaced because of the floods.

The one-off state payment is designed to help households meet immediate and essential needs, like emergency shelter, food, clothing or personal items.

Emergency relief assistance is based on a fixed amount for each member of a household.

The state assistance will be paid after the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing has assessed your eligibility.

In most cases, the payment is not available for damage caused by construction or building works, business losses, motor vehicle repairs or towing, compensation for the loss of income, paying insurance excess or loss resulting from power outages

Victorians affected by the floods can visit emergencypayments.dffh.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 226 226 to claim their payment.

Mrs Nichol has requested Mr Walsh ask the Premier to establish something similar to what was here in 2011.

“It is needed ASAP,” she said.

“This will give people the assistance they require, as it did in 2011.”

Mrs Nichol said, 11 years ago, people could walk in and have face-to-face service with the government department that handled the funding.

“Back then they could get all the advice and help they were entitled to,” she said.

In 2011 this service was based at the Rochester Racecourse Recreation Reserve (Four Rs) complex where the tennis club and Campaspe Golf Club are located.

“The crisis centre will also help the elderly, who don’t do emails, or can’t assess the services online. They could walk into a crisis centre,” she said.

Ms Nichol said Rochester identities Ron and Barry Iddles were due to arrive Rochester on Monday to help with the clean-up.

“They are planning to do a sausage sizzle for the town later in the week, in Iddles Lane,” she said.

Mrs Nichol said, in the meantime, Rochester people were using Lockington (in the west) and Kyabram (in the east) as their major source of supplies.

“Lockington has come alive, it is just buzzing with people,” she said.

“The supermarket has extended its hours as a result. They are doing an amazing job.”

Ms Nichol said it was pleasing to see the water receding, with several people having started returning to premises and cleaning up.

“It is tragic what it has done to the town, particularly when Rochester was on such an upward trend,” she said.

“But the emergency services have done an amazing job. They are all to be commended.”

Ms Nichol said having advanced warning of the impending flood had allowed many people to be well prepared.

“It was still tough, becuase not many thought the water was going to be higher than 2011,” she said.

“The power of the people will get Rochester through this.”