The Road to Recovery
It is now 20 days since the June 9th storm severely damaged some of the most beautiful areas of Victoria. On that night in the Yarra Ranges, our little family huddled together, listening to tree after tree topple around us, each time hoping we weren’t in their trajectory. The next day we emerged relatively unscathed, but deeply traumatised by the experience and devastation. And while I am thankful that no human lives were lost, my heart goes out to all those whose homes were damaged or destroyed and to the entire community whose psyche is so entwined with our environment. I think we all in some way feel a bit broken.
Although power has returned to most of the impacted areas, communities will take months to recover physically, emotionally, and financially. The updates below are intended to help with this recovery. Again, with the situation changing quickly, I will do my best to keep this post updated with the latest news. Please let me know if you have updates and check our previous posts for further useful links and advice. Cheers Belinda x
Events
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐶𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑦
Sunday July 11, 3:30 pm. Kalorama Reserve,
*Please note: this special event is for local people only (residents of the Dandenong Ranges). Children welcome.
Murrundindi, Ngurungaeta (Head Man) of the Wurundjeri clan is coming up to Corhanwarrabul, the Dandenongs next Sunday 4th July to perform a healing ceremony at Kalorama Oval at 3.30pm, in response to the storm that has had devastating impacts on the Country and community here. From your enthusiastic responses to this idea, it seems that many of us are feeling a need for a First Nations-led reconnection. Now that power is finally restored to most homes and we start to pick up the pieces of everyday life, it is still shocking (and will be for a long time) to witness what the usually-beautiful forest looks and feels like, and facing that destruction every day is deeply upsetting. Being present for Murrundindi's ceremony may help us to collectively reflect and reorientate to Country, informed by Wurundjeri cultural perspectives.
Emotional and Mental Health Support
𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑟𝑜
Counselling for 12 and over in Belgrave, Lilydale and Healesville. Private and free services available. Services include:
General
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma
Grief and loss
Family/relationship issues
Family violence
Stress
Youth
Psychologist
https://www.inspiro.org.au/.../browse-by-service/counselling
𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑝
Victorians of all ages concerned about their mental health can call HeadtoHelp on 1800 595 212 (Mon-Fri, 8.30am-5pm) to talk to a health professional and find the support that meets their needs.
1800 595 212
This is a free service.
Seeking Help
Dangerous Trees on Property
There have been a few questions about what to do about trees on private land that are considered dangerous. The advice from the council is to contact the Department of Family, Fairness and Housing on 1300 475 1707. The information below can be found halfway down the linked page. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲.
https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/
Financial Support
𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑔𝑒 𝑝𝑎𝑦𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠: 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians affected by the storms and floods.
Find more information about Disaster Recovery Payments on the Disaster Assist Website. https://www.disasterassist.gov.au/.../vic-floods-storms...
Prolonged power outage payments of $1,680 per week for up to three weeks are available to eligible households that:
• Have a residential electricity account
• Remain without power as at 12.01am Thursday 17 June 2021, due to the recent severe weather event
Apply for power outage payments via the AusNet Services website. https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/.../Prolonged-Power...
𝐸𝐴𝐶𝐻 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑙𝑡ℎ
Each offer a free, independent and confidential service by financial counsellors for those with debts they are struggling to pay. We are working with your local councils to offer support to those affected by the storms. Financial Counsellors are able to assist those in disaster areas with help with grants, insurance claims and advocacy with any creditors. EACH can be contacted on our Intake line (for those in the Yarra Ranges Council): 9871 1817 or by calling the National Debt helpline on 1800 007 007.
EACH also run a small business financial counselling service. This can be accessed by calling us the Partners In Wellbeing line on 1300 375 330
𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝐷𝑒𝑏𝑡 𝐻𝑒𝑙𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒: Call 1800 007 007
𝐿𝐼𝑁𝐶 𝑌𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎 𝑉𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦: Financial counselling service: Call 0455 268 457
Eastern Community Legal Centre: Financial counselling that assists people escaping family violence. Call 1300 325 200
𝐶𝐼𝑆 𝑌𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑎 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠: Food vouchers and financial assistance. Information and referral service for enquiries including housing, health, family support and mental health. Emergency relief provided to residents of the following areas:
Chirnside Park 3116; Coldstream 3770; Gruyere 3770; Kalorama 3766; Kilsyth (not Kilsyth South) 3137; Lilydale 3140; Monbulk 3793; Montrose 3765; Mooroolbark 3138; Mount Dandenong 3767; Mount Evelyn 3796; Olinda 3788; Seville 3139; Silvan 3795; Wandin 3139; Yering 3770
People are welcome to drop in or phone for assistance.9735 1311
www.cisvic.org.au/getting-help/cis-yarra-ranges
info@cisyarraranges.org.au
𝐷𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑅𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑠 𝐸𝑚𝑒𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑦 𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒:
Emergency relief including financial assistance, food, clothing vouchers, travel assistance and more.Ph: 9754 7777 or 0468 468 430
Visit at Belgrave Community Hub, 1616-1624 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave.
Monday-Friday, 9am-12.30pm
Email: enquire@drers.org.au
Web: www.drers.org.au
Utility Relief Grant Scheme (non-mains)
Financial assistance to help pay an energy or water (non-mains) bill that is overdue due to a temporary financial crisis. People can apply for the grant if they have a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or Veterans' Affairs Gold Card, or are on a very low income. Includes: gas, diesel and petrol for a generator, heating oil, firewood, metered electricity from an embedded network, carted water, septic tank cleaning (for homeowners).
Concessions Information line 1800 658 521
Additional Support
Food
Babajis Kitchen will be in Kalorama tonight outside St Michaels church, tonight (Tuesday) 4-6.30 pm ‘ish. 500 serves of butter chicken and potato coconut curry (vegan) ready to go. https://www.facebook.com/BabajisKitchen
Planning and Building Support After Emergencies
The Yarra Ranges Council webpage has dedicated pages to answer your questions about repairs, replacements or rebuilds resulting from the storm. Please follow the link for more details: https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/.../Repairing-or...
Here are some key points from those pages:
𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑐𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑚𝑒
If you are repairing or replacing a small proportion of damaged sections of your home ‘like for like’, you will not require a planning permit.
However, you will require a building permit if structural works are required. A member of Council’s building team or a private building surveyor can advise you if this is the case.
Please note, Council does not issue building permits.
Building permits can be obtained from private building surveyors and fees will apply. Private building surveyors can be found by searching on the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors website or the Victorian Building Authority’s website or searching ‘Building Surveyors’ on the web.
Some insurers will cover the cost of building permit fees. Check your insurance policy to see if you are covered.
𝐼𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑓𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑒
If your home needs to be rebuilt, or you decide to renovate or extend, a planning and building permit will be required. Other Council permits may also be required.
Property owners with storm damaged homes are eligible to have planning and septic tank permit fees waived.
For advice, please contact Marcella Simone from Planning Services on 1300 368 333.
𝑅𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑒𝑠
A planning permit is often required if you wish to remove or prune trees or other vegetation. https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/.../Tree.../Remove-a-tree
Power and Shower Sites
𝐾𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑎
Kalorama Oval: 1190 – 1196 Mt Dandenong Road. Support provided include, showers, charging stations, food relief, NBN, firewood and laundry facilities.
𝑂𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑎
Olinda Football Oval: 71-73 Olinda Monbulk Road. Support includes WIFI, charging facilities, food relief and showers.
If you are visiting a shower and power site, please take your own towels, toiletries and charging devices. https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/.../Storm-Emergency...
Washing Services
Discovery Church, 89 Monbulk Road Mt Evelyn.
Support Our Local Businesses
Our villages of Sassafras, Olinda and Mt Dandenong are famous not only for both their outstanding natural beauty and boutique stores. While our local stores wait for the local situation to become safe enough for tourists to return, please support local businesses by visiting their stores online. In the comments I have placed a list of local retailers and links to the local businesses of Sassafras, Olinda and Mt Dandenong. Visit Yarra Ranges Local Business Page for links to local businesses you can support online.
Thank you again for the huge number businesses who have chipped in to help us in our time of need. Check out todays digital edition of the Yarra Ranges trader for all the news. You may see a few words from me on page 10. https://rangestrader.mailcommunity.com.au/digital-editions/
Finally a huge thank you to the emergency services, arborists, community volunteers, Yarra Ranges Council, Red Cross and Ausnet service team who have worked tirelessly to get our lives resembling some form of normal. Absolute legends the lot of you. xx