October 2022 Floods

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If you were affected by the October 2022 floods, please let us know. There are a range of support services available, depending on your circumstances. We can help you navigate these and assist you to access available supports where possible. 

We have a Flood Recovery Information Collection form available online to inform us of your impact and assistance needs.

You can also phone our Northern Grampians Shire Council Flood Recovery Hotline on 03 5358 9099 from 9am-4.30pm daily Monday-Friday (except Public Holidays).

Clean up assistance

  • Better Health provides helpful information regarding how to return home safely after a flood.
  • Emergency Recovery Victoria also provides helpful information regarding how to manage waste after a flood.
  • Council may be able to provide assistance with clean up and flood-related waste. Please contact us, as per above, to let us know of your needs.  

Agricultural related flood damage 

  • Wimmera CMA is encouraging landholders who have had their waterway fencing impacted or have noticed any erosion issues to contact them promptly so that they can start assisting with recovery efforts, where possible. You can find their online expression of interest form here or you can call them on 5358 1544 for more information.
  • Agriculture Victoria has asked for all farming impact damage to be reported to them on 1800 226 226. Agencies require this data in order to understand the level of impact that has occurred, as this then enables them to respond appropriately.

Road closures

  • Roads within the shire have been severely impacted by floodwater. As the road network has not yet been thoroughly inspected, please use precaution and drive carefully.
  • Please keep up to date with all Northern Grampians Shire road closures. You can do this here.
  • Council will be working over the coming weeks to inspect roads and road infrastructure across the shire and then undertake any necessary emergency works.
  • Flood damaged road infrastructure can be reported by via Snap Send Solve or by calling council directly on 03 5358 8700.

Emotional support

  • Lifeline on 13 11 14
  • Grampians Community Health on 5358 7400
  • Partners in Wellbeing 1300 375 330

Financial help

  • Services Australia is also currently offering both lump sum payments and ongoing, short-term allowances for people who have been affected by the October 2022 floods. Information on both these payments and how to claim is available here at Services Australia, Victorian Floods.
  • Primary Producers can access three funding streams through Rural Finance to help with clean-up, restore and repair assets, and for cost of transporting emergency fodder or stock water.
  • Rural Financial Counselling Services on 1800 686 175.
  • Small businesses can access immediate flood relief supports through Business Victoria. Please call 132 215 to access one-off payments of $5,000 to assist with clean-up, safety inspections, repairs, equipment hire and purchase of stock.
  • Community Sport Emergency Flood Assistance is available through Sport and Recreation Victoria and provides one-off grants of $5,000 for the replacement items that have been lost, damaged, or destroyed in the foods.

Local support

  • Stawell Neighborhood House is open for those who need to rest, shower, grab a cup of tea, or just hang out. Call on 5358 3500 or go straight to 42 Sloane Street, Stawell.
  • St Arnaud Neighborhood House can assist residents who have been affected in St Arnaud, Stuart Mill, Navarre and Marnoo. There is help available for completing relief and recovery payment applications, and finding other suitable assistance is available over video conference or face-to-face between 10am and 12pm Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday or by appointment on Tuesdays and after hours. Please call 03 5495 3300 during business hours or 0447 549 428 / 0499 977 451 after hours.
  • Stawell Interchurch Council Food Relief is also open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10.30am-12.30pm at 20 Sloane Street, Stawell. For out of hours emergencies, the number to call is 0408 038 949.

Health information

Weather warnings

  • Flood warnings, river height information, and weather updates are available on the BOM website.

Preparing for future floods

  • The lead time to respond to a flood event may be limited. All households and businesses at risk of flooding should develop an emergency plan and beware of their flood risk. Households and businesses should refer to their Local Flood Guide or Municipal Flood Emergency Plan for more information.
  • Please note: VICSES is the responsible agency for flood, storm, and landslide emergencies. 

The key messages during a flood are:

  • Enact your plan
  • For emergency assistance during flood or storm call 132 500
  • In a life-threatening emergency call 000
  • Listen to the local radio for emergency information updates

If you have been affected by the floods, the Victorian Government also has a dedicated hotline that you can call for information and assistance: 

  • The Victorian Government Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760. This hotline is open from 7.30am-7.30pm every day and offers support in languages other than English. 
  • The Emergency Recovery Victoria website is also a fantastic resource to reference. Most information provided through the hotline above will be available for you to read through and explore in further depth.
  • The Victorian Government Flood Recovery Hotline is also recommended for clean-up assistance and mental health and wellbeing support. 

We have also developed a Community Flood Information Flyer(PDF, 127KB) for ease of access to important flood-specific information. 

 

 

 

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