Joint media release with the Hon Paul Edbrooke MP
Communities across Victoria will be better protected from future natural disasters, with 11 projects across the state receiving funding through Round Four of the Albanese Government's $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).
The Albanese Government will contribute more than $17.7 million towards projects across Victoria, complemented by a further $19.1 million from the Carroll Government and other project partners, bringing the total investment to more than $36.8 million.
The successful projects will help communities prepare for and withstand the impacts of natural hazards, with investments supporting initiatives such as levees, coastal protection infrastructure and bushfire resilience.
The funding will go towards seven infrastructure projects and three resilience and risk reduction initiatives that will deliver long-term benefits to communities exposed to natural hazards.
This includes helping communities in Ruffy and Mansfield, who recently experienced fires, and communities in Bendigo and Rochester, who recently experienced flooding, better prepare for future disasters.
Victoria is also leading a $1 million muti-jurisdictional project to share emergency information and deliver joint training between north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales.
The Albanese Government established the Disaster Ready Fund to reduce risk and build resilience in communities across Australia.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain:
"People across Victoria are no stranger to the impact bushfires, floods and severe storms and that's why we established the Disaster Ready Fund - to build resilience before disaster strikes.
"Round Four of the Disaster Ready Fund is helping communities across Victoria better prepare for the natural hazards they face, while delivering practical projects that reduce risk and strengthen local resilience.
"Whether it's improving infrastructure, supporting better planning, or delivering community preparedness initiatives, these projects will help protect people, homes and livelihoods for years to come.
"The Albanese Government is proud to be partnering with the Carroll Government, local governments and community organisations to deliver projects that make communities safer and more resilient."
Quotes attributable to Victorian Minister for Emergency Services Paul Edbrooke:
"We know how quickly bushfires, floods and storms can turn lives upside down which is why we need to be ready before they hit to keep Victorians safe.
"We're working with the Commonwealth to deliver practical projects that help protect lives, homes and communities from future disasters.
"These projects will help communities across Victoria better prepare for emergencies, reduce the damage they cause and recover faster when disaster strikes."
Examples of successful DRF Round Four projects include:
- Racecourse Creek Flood Levy: This $12.3 million project will deliver levees along Racecourse Creek in Epsom to prevent overbank flooding and reduce flood risk to more than 500 homes and 60 businesses while improving emergency access.
- Castlemaine and Campbells Creek Flood Levee Project: This $4.4 million project will deliver levee works at Castlemaine Caravan Park, Elizabeth Street and Campbells Creek Township, reducing flood risk to homes, businesses, community facilities, local roads and essential infrastructure.
- Coastal Risk Reduction and Resilience Program: This $7.2 million project will deliver new and upgraded coastal protection infrastructure at Port Franklin and Elwood to reduce coastal flooding risks and improve resilience to storms and sea level rise.
- Rochester and Elmore District Health Service - Hospital Facility Flood Protection Levee: This $3.7 million project will mitigate flood impacts like those experienced in the 2022 flood which caused the hospital to be evacuated.
- Mansfield Shire Community Resilience Project and the Ruffy Community Infrastructure Project: Nearly $3.9 million to strengthen emergency preparedness, improve community safety, and enhance the capacity of local facilities to support residents before, during, and after emergencies such as bushfires.
The full list of successful Victorian projects supported by DRF Round 4 is available at Disaster Ready Fund.
