By Oliver Lees
Moorabool council is encouraging farmers to apply for storm recovery grants, as landholders continue their efforts to recuperate following the extreme weather that tore through the shire in June 2021.
Valued up to $25,000, the Exceptional Circumstances Recovery Grants are available to primary producers to assist in clean-up and recovery expenses.
From June 9 to 11 last year, Victoria was lashed with extreme wind and rain which caused widespread property damage and put a record strain on the state’s emergency services.
According to Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) data, June 2021 was its busiest month on record, with more than 10,000 total requests for assistance.
That was followed by another near record-breaking month in October, with 9898 requests for assistance, mainly for fallen trees, attending building damage and flooding.
Moorabool council mayor Tom Sullivan told Star Weekly that council immediately established its Storm Recovery Team after the June storm, which is still operational.
“The damage to private trees, as well as trees in state forests and parks was unprecedented,” Cr Sullivan said.
“Given the scale of the event across the region an Incident Control Centre was established in Ballarat to coordinate the response across many local government areas in the days immediately following the storm.”
The immediate fall out saw more than 1000 homes lose electricity and broadband connection.
Cr Sullivan said additional major storms events – in October and January – further complicated clean-up efforts.
“Further homes were destroyed, as well as further property damage, trees down and flooding impacting businesses,” he said.
“The January storm impacted the agricultural area significantly. Assessments are ongoing to determine the most recent storm’s full impact across the Shire.”
Council is urging affected residents to contact the Moorabool Storm Recovery Team.
For further information on the grants, visit the Rural Finance website.
Details: www.ruralfinance.com.au
