LOCALS impacted by the October floods are now eligible for Federal Government disaster assistance after the payments were extended to include the Local Government Area (LGA) of Southern Grampians.
It was announced last Tuesday that the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) had been extended to both Southern Grampians LGA and Swan Hill LGA, bringing the total number of covered Victoria LGAs to 31.
Originally, Southern Grampians was identified as one of the 25 Victorian LGAs declared as flood affected but was then removed from the list of impacted councils, reportedly due to it not being ‘significantly impacted’.
Wannon MP, Dan Tehan, said he had been working to get Southern Grampians added back to the list and it was great that the community could now receive funding to begin much needed repairs.
“I have been calling for this to occur for the last six weeks,” he said.
“It is very positive news that the Federal Government has recognised Southern Grampians for flood assistance especially as it will help with road funding for our badly damaged roads.
“The government now needs to provide the assistance ASAP so the repairs to the roads can begin in earnest.
“Everyone in the community knows that roads continue to deteriorate while we wait for this funding so my hope is that it will be delivered early in the new year.”
Mr Tehan said the payments would also help ease the burden of households that were impacted by the October floods.
“For those individuals who suffered serious damage to their houses this will also provide much needed relief which is also very welcome news,” he said.
With Southern Grampians once again on the list, locals can apply for the AGDRP, with eligible adults able to claim $1000, and $400 per eligible child.
The payments are only available to people who reside in the relevant LGAs and have suffered a significant loss because of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or a serious injury.
Hamilton resident, Carolyn Bray, said in October that the floods destroyed the property she was renting on Coleraine Road, resulting in her having to throw out a significant portion of her belongings due to water damage or mould, and move into a new smaller unit.
She said the water came rushing into her home on the evening of October 21 and reached knee height, before needing to be rescued by the SES.
Ms Bray then sought financial assistance from the government, only to be told that Southern Grampians was not eligible for disaster recovery payments, forcing her to use what little money she had saved to replace her damaged goods and rebuild her life.
Fast forward to now, Ms Bray said she is getting settled into her new home and had already received her AGDRP after being informed early last week of the updated list.
Ms Bray said she had encouraged the Shire and Dan Tehan’s office to follow up on the disaster recovery payments back in October and she was “very happy” that changes had now been made.
“I was informed before by Southern Grampians Shire Council and Dan Tehan’s office that they were pushing for the change and somewhere along the lines someone has succeeded because we’re now back on the list,” she said.
“It’s nice to know the people in this district are put on level par with other districts.
“I just wish we could have done it without the song and dance.
“I’m very appreciative for it … it eases the mind too.”
Equivalent financial assistance is available to eligible New Zealand citizens (‘non-protected’ Special Category Visas, subclass 444 holders), with claims for both payments able to be made 24 hours a day through myGov.
People impacted by the floods can also pause or change their Centrelink debt repayments using the Money you owe service online in either their Centrelink online account, or Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
