Up to 500 ADF personnel will assist with the flood recovery in Victoria and New South Wales, as local communities continue to deal with the ongoing crisis.
The Australian Government has approved a request from Emergency Management Victoria to provide up to 400 personnel to assist emergency authorities or tasks including;
- Filling and distribution of sandbags
- Transport support to isolated families and emergency services stakeholders with high clearance vehicles
- Diversion of water from a small dam and construction of three levees
- Door knocking to support flood-affected residents
ADF personnel have been assisting communities in flood affected areas across regional Victoria. Two CH-47 Chinook helicopters are also supporting evacuation and resupply efforts.
Up to 100 ADF members are also assisting in New South Wales and a helicopter for night search and rescue on standby, primarily in Western New South Wales.
Quotes attributable to the Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese:
"The Australian Government is working closely with our Victorian and New South Wales counterparts to provide assistance as quickly as possible."
"We've already seen our ADF members hard at work filling sandbags in Shepparton, building levee banks in Echuca and helping out in Wagga Wagga.
"Now they will also be supporting more people as we move to the clean-up phase of this disaster."
Quotes attributable to the Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles:
"Once again, the Australian Defence Force have stepped up and are helping people across the eastern states, often in the very communities where they live
"Whether it's checking on vulnerable people in flooded towns or getting supplies to isolated areas, our ADF personnel are supporting Australians in during their toughest times."
Quotes attributable to the Emergency Management Minister, Murray Watt:
"Having the ADF step up and help is be greatly appreciated in flood-affected areas."
"This is a short and sharp operation to complement the great work of the state emergency agencies and will assist our hardest hit communities."
