Campaspe Shire Council Mayor Cr Rob Amos has welcomed the Victorian and Australian Governments' announcement of $9.4 million for a Council Priority Betterment Program to improve the resilience of public assets damaged by the Victorian floods in October 2022.
Campaspe Shire Council will receive up to $1 million in betterment funding.
"We are pleased that the state and federal governments have listened to the local government sector on the need for betterment funding so flood-impacted councils can repair damaged critical infrastructure to a more resilient standard," Cr Amos said.
"Campaspe Shire Council, other flood impacted councils and peak local government bodies, such as the Municipal Association of Victoria and Rural Councils Victoria, have been strongly advocating for some time for the governments to change their like-for-like replacement policy.
"The current Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements are restrictive in only allowing councils to repair critical assets to pre-disaster condition.
"However, with climate changing the nature and frequency of extreme weather events, it makes sense that we reconstruct our roads, bridges, footpaths and other critical assets to a higher standard so they are better able to withstand floods and other disasters into the future.
"We applaud the state and federal governments for this strategic financial investment in our communities' futures."
With betterment funding only applicable to the repair of essential public assets such as roads, the Mayor said that Campaspe Shire Council will continue its advocacy efforts to secure funding to repair other infrastructure damaged by the floods.
"While public infrastructure such as roads, bridges and paths are essential for the mobility of our residents and day-to-day operations of our businesses and industry, the importance of community facilities that foster social connection, and contribute positively to mental health and wellbeing, cannot be understated," Cr Amos said.
"The destruction of Rochester pool in the flood is a case in point. Not only has the community lost an important social hub during the summer months but the swimming club and schools have had no local facilities to run their numerous programs, including learn-to-swim.
"The Victorian Government has promised that although the Commonwealth Games is cancelled, regional Victoria will still get the $2 billion package of benefits the Games would have delivered, including the completion of 'every one of the permanent new and upgraded sporting infrastructure projects'*.
"While we are pleased that regional Victoria will receive the sports infrastructure legacy benefits promised, we urge the Victorian Government to consider redirecting a portion of the $2 billion towards the rebuilding of a new aquatic facility in Rochester.
"With many people in Rochester experiencing ongoing trauma from the floods, a new swimming facility will not only create opportunities that support mental health and wellbeing, it will also provide a beacon of hope for the future."
* https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/commonwealth-games-costs-too-high-over-6-billion
