MEDIA STATEMENT

7 June 2023

Almost $18 million in emergency and disaster funding awarded to Indi

Almost $18 million in funding has been awarded to projects in Indi to build resilience to natural disasters under the Disaster Ready Fund, Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines has announced.

Seven different projects across Indi will share in $17,899,746.39 in funding from the Federal and Victorian governments.

The Disaster Ready Fund is a resilience and risk reduction initiative administered by the Commonwealth Government. The Fund aims to help communities curb the devastating impacts of natural hazards such as bushfires and floods. By partnering with state governments, the funds go towards investing in important disaster resilience and risk reduction projects.

“Indi communities have been severely affected by both the Black Summer bushfires and the 2022-2023 flooding events, which created huge damage to our roads and properties. These projects will help protect our communities when the next natural disaster occurs,” Dr Haines said.

“I have worked with communities across the electorate as we have recovered from those natural disasters and had many conversations about how we can be better prepared. These projects will make a real difference in many ways.

“These projects will help protect the power grid in the Upper Murray, protect our roads and properties from floods and prepare for a recovery centre. As the communities’ Independent voice in Parliament I have worked with the Government to ensure our needs are heard and understood.

“I congratulate all the communities involved in preparing these projects and being awarded funding.”

Projects in Indi to be awarded Commonwealth funding include:

• $15 million to be delivered in Towong Shire, to establish an Advanced Microgrid that would improve energy resilience to Corryong during natural disasters.
• $1,569,116.39 to the Rural City of Wangaratta to upgrade the existing levee bank at Merriwa Park, to cope with severe flood events and upgrade the pump station.
• $420,630 to the North East Catchment Management Authority to repair and replace the flood channel along Hodgson and Burgoigee Creeks in Wangaratta, in order to protect public and private assets
• $300,000 to for flood modelling in Benalla to better understand current flooding inadequacies in road infrastructure.
• $300,000 to the Strathbogie Shire Council and Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, to undertake a Flash Flooding and Storm Surges Strategy for towns at the base of the Strathbogie Ranges, which will map and model the waterways and drainage infrastructure to improve community awareness and reduce flood risks.
• $250,000 to Murrindindi Shire Council, Mitchell Shire Council and the Goulburn Broken Catchment Authority to undertake a Mid-Goulburn Valley Flood Study on the Goulburn River, which will recommend flood models, data, emergency plan risks and consequences, infrastructure resilience and mitigation opportunities.
• $60,000 to the Jamieson Community Group & Associated Bodies Inc, Community Enterprise Foundation, Mansfield Shire Council, the Country Fire Authority, and Safer Together for a business case and project plan to develop a recovery centre during and after emergencies.

The Federal Government contributed $8.1 million of the funding, with the remainder from the Victorian Government.

Applications underwent an independent and transparent process by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). NEMA ensured applications met the Guideline requirements, and made recommendations to the Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt, who accepted them in full.