Maribyrnong Flood Recovery

Melbourne Water is supporting an independent review of the Maribyrnong River flood event that occurred on the 14th of October, 2022.

The review will include an examination of the causes and contributors to the Flood Event in the urban catchment, including any potential impacts of the Flemington Racecourse Flood Wall on the extent and duration of the flood.

Public submissions for the independently led Review have now opened. Community members can provide their submissions from 17 January 2023 until 17 March 2023.

Melbourne Water will hold a series of six information sessions, both in person and online, for the community to find out more about the review and how to make a submission.

Those wanting to get involved are encouraged to visit Melbourne Water's Maribyrnong River Flood Review YourSay page for information, including details of the six community information sessions and the full terms of reference: yoursay.melbournewater.com.au/maribyrnong-river-flood-review. Or call Melbourne Water on 131 722

A CRC is being proposed to support the recovery efforts post the flood event in October 2022. It’s planned to be an advisory committee of Council and will consist of a majority of community members, for a term of 18 months, who will advise on what recovery looks like for their community.

The proposal to establish the committee as an Advisory Committee of Council requires endorsement at a Council meeting. It is anticipated that a report to establish the CRC will be presented to Council in February 2023.

Membership of the proposed Committee will be representative of the community with reference to ability, age, gender and gender identification, and cultural background, and if an Expression of Interest process will be run for nominations by members of the community.

Further information on the date of the Council meeting and the proposed CRC will be provided in due course.

Council is providing the option to enter into a rates payment arrangement in relation to the second instalment of rates.

If your property was affected by the floods in Maribyrnong you can apply for a minimum payment arrangement.

You can submit an online application or download the application form below.

Submit an application online

• Download the Rates Payment Arrangement for Flood Affected Properties form(PDF, 210KB)

Friday 25 November is the final day of in-person recovery support at Maribyrnong Community Centre.

Council has established an email for residents to send through specific requests and concerns floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

This inbox is monitored from 9am-5pm. 

On Thursday 15 December, we held a community meeting at Maribyrnong Community Centre with presentations given by Council, VicSES and Melbourne Water, facilitated by Victoria Police. 

View the recording of the presentations below.

In response to the recent floods, Council is providing an option to apply for a 50 per cent rebate on the second instalment of rates and the municipal charge.

If your property was affected by the recent floods in Maribyrnong, you can apply for the rebate by completing the online application, or download the application form below and submit it to Council by email to email@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Following the submission of your application a member of our team will contact you to discuss your situation.

To complete the application you will need your rates assessment number which can be found on your rates assessment notice.

Submit an application online

• Download the Rates Rebate Application Form(PDF, 137KB)
  

Hard waste collections are now taking place by request. Send an email with your name, address and phone number to floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au to request your collection

Building and demolition materials will not be picked up in the hard waste collections.

Residents are asked to please continue to separate liquids such as paints and oils from other hard waste to assist the collection teams in separating waste streams.

Skip bin permits

Residents now need permits for skip bins intended for demolition waste. All you need to do is ask to your skip bin provider to visit the Council website to submit an application for a permit for your residence.

Fees for permits for skip bins will be waived by Council.

More information for skip bin providers: maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/skip-bin-permit

Kerbside waste collections

Kerbside bins collections have now returned to the pre-flood collection schedule.

Arranging a new kerbside bin

Flood affected residents that require a kerbside bin replacement due to the floods can contact Council for a free replacement which will be delivered or repair which will be actioned within 24 hours, Monday and Friday. Residents will need to advise Customer Service that they are a flood affected resident and provide the below information when requesting a new bin:

• full name
• address
• your contact details if you are the owner, or your Body Corporation's contact details if you are a renter (phone number and email address)
• the type of request - a bin replacement or repair
• the bin type and size you are requesting

To contact Customer Service, call 9688 0200.

Flood Recovery Hotline

The State Government has set up a Flood Recovery Hotline for impacted residents. Call 1800 560 760 to:

•  register for a clean-up on private property
• navigate financial and other support
• access to temporary accommodation
• access mental health and wellbeing support

The hotline is open every day from 7.30am-7.30pm.

Case management

Windermere has been activated as a case management referral agency for residents of Maribyrnong, providing support around longer-term accommodation. Call the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 or visit the State Government website for more information.

Financial support

The State Government has announced a disaster relief payment to assist individuals and communities that are experiencing, or are likely to experience, hardship in meeting their relief needs as a result of the flood. To complete the online assessment form visit the State Government website. 

Support is also available from the Personal Hardship Assistance Program’s Emergency Re-establishment Assistance fund. This is for families whose properties are hardest-hit, beyond initial payments for food and shelter – providing up to $42,250 for uninsured properties, helping to pay for clean-up, repairs, rebuilding and replacing household contents.

To apply for assistance, call 1300 475 170, or visit the website.

The Federal Government has also announced an additional support payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child, with those affected now eligible for the one-off,
non-means-tested payments. Log in to your MyGov account to apply.

Emergency accommodation support

There is now state support to provide temporary accommodation for vulnerable community members and those who have been in emergency accommodation for a number of nights, and cannot return to their homes in the near future.

Individuals and households can call the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760, where a needs assessment will be conducted to gauge the best available emergency accommodation support.

The Recovery Hotline can also be used for assistance with:

• navigating available supports
• clean-up
• mental health and wellbeing support

The recovery hotline is open from 7:30am-7:30pm every day. 

Business support

We know a number of businesses have also suffered damage due to the flood. A one off grant of $5,000 is available to cover immediate expenses.

Call the Business Victoria hotline on 132 215 for more information. If you need a translator, let the operator know.

Mentors will also be available to guide owners through available Commonwealth, State and local supports and help manage insurance and landlord issues, assess impacts and form strategies for recovery.

For more information, visit business.vic.gov.au

Advice for landlords and tenants

Tenants and landlords have certain rights and responsibilities in relation to rental properties that may have been damaged in the flood event.

Visit consumer.vic.gov.au for more information.

Volunteering

Now that Maribyrnong has moved into the recovery phase and all local volunteer tasks have been completed, Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) has concluded its in-person support in Maribyrnong.

Moving forward, they continue to be available to provide support if requested by Council. If you are in need of volunteer support, visit the Recovery Centre or email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au. Council will review your requirements and help arrange the relevant assistance you need. For more information visit the website at disasterreliefaus.org/volunteer

Donations

Anyone with goods they are wanting to donate to help flood affected families should visit the GIVIT website where offers can be lodged.

Our open spaces and sports facilities along the Maribyrnong River from Footscray Wharf to Pipemakers Park have been impacted. See below the current public access status of each space.  Last updated Wednesday 11 January.

Key:

• Closed – completely closed and taped off from public use
• In progress – partially open facilities near completion but please steer clear of any taped off areas
• Open – recovery complete and space has been fully returned to the community

Community newsletters

Council is sharing updates and information direct to email inboxes of flood impacted properties.

We heard at the community meeting concerns that some residents, particularly those who may have had to leave their properties, were not receiving information deposited in their letterbox.

While we will still be delivering the newsletter in hard copy, we hope digital distribution will ensure we are more able to reach all impacted residents.

You'll find an 'unsubscribe' option, on the e-newsletter email, should you prefer not to receive these communications.

We're reducing the frequency to weekly, on Wednesdays. We will continue to add copies to this page. 

To subscribe to receive a copy of the newsletter to your inbox, register below:

Click here to register

Neighbourhood champions

We're calling for expressions of interest from residents from the flood-impacted area who might like to act as street ambassadors - working with us to ensure the right information is getting where it needs to in a way that works for residents.

If this is something you are interested in, please share your name and contact details, phone number and address (so we can ensure good street coverage) to floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au with 'street ambassador' in the subject line, and we'll come back to you.

Personal hygiene is critical. Illnesses like gastroenteritis (stomach bugs) can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.

• Always wash your hands after handling debris before handling food. 
• Be sure to wear sturdy boots and rubber or leather gloves.
• Mosquitos can also breed rapidly and become a nuisance – cover skin with sleeves and pants, and use an insect repellent.

Children and elderly people are particularly at risk from dehydration. Ensure they drink plenty of water.

If you have an open cut or sore that has been exposed to floodwater

• Keep it as clean as possible by washing with soap and covering with a plaster.
• Contact a doctor for further treatment, like a tetanus shot.
• If redness, swelling or discharge occurs, seek immediate medical attention.

To help protect children

• Do not let children play in silt or water that is lying around.
• Wash their hands frequently and always before meals.
• Do not let them play with flood-damaged toys until they have been disinfected. 

You can clean all toys that have come into contact with floodwater by:

• Soaking in a solution of 1.5 cups of household bleach in 10 litres of water (a household bucket) for two minutes. Rinse in clean water.
• Let toys air dry after cleaning. 

Dealing with contaminated food supplies

Throw away:

• Any food that has come into direct contact with floodwater.
• Any food that has an unusual odour, colour or texture.
• Canned food if the can is open, bulging or damaged.
• Food containers with screw caps, snap-lids, crimped caps (soft drink bottles), twist caps, flip-top lids and home canned foods.

Drinking water

Greater Western Water says the water is safe to drink. But use bottled, boiled or disinfected water if it is dirty or cloudy; and call a plumber. 

Boil water by:

• Keeping it at a rolling boil for one minute to make sure bacteria is killed.
• If you suspect the water may be contaminated with chemicals – only used bottled water.

Disinfect by:

• Adding ¾ of a teaspoon (4 ml) of non-scented chlorine bleach into a clean household bucket containing 10 litres of water.
• Stir the water well, and let it stand for 30 minutes before using.

For infants:

• Use only pre-prepared canned baby food (that is not bulging or damaged)
• Make up powdered formulas with bottled water

Where to get help

• State Emergency Service (SES): 132 500
• Nurse-on-call: 1300 60 60 24 (any time, 24/7)
• Your insurance company
• Victorian Department of Health: 1300 650 172

Keep an eye out for animals

Animals and rodents

Snakes and other animals like rats, mice and spiders can lose their home during floods, and may look for shelter inside houses, sheds and other buildings. When returning to a flood-affected area remember to take care.

Wear sturdy work boots, gloves, and long pants to protect your legs when cleaning up, and watch where you place your hands and feet when removing or cleaning up debris.

If you find a snake, do not panic. Seek advice from someone who knows how to safely remove the snake or contact the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 136 186. If you are bitten by a snake seek immediate medical attention by calling triple zero (000).

Mosquitos

Because there is always a lot of stagnant water lying around after any flood event, there are likely to also be more mosquitos around. Follow a few simple steps when outdoors to reduce your risk of being bitten and becoming unwell:

• cover up and wear long, loose-fitting clothing as mosquitos can bit through tight clothing
• use mosquito nets or insect screens, and repellents
• use fly spray, mosquito coils or plug-in repellent where you gather to sit or eat

Dealing with mould

After water enters your home, it only takes mould spores 48 hours to grow, due to consistent moisture in the air.

If you find signs of mould and mildew, brush off items outdoors to prevent spores spreading inside. Vacuum floors, ceilings and walls to remove mildew, then wash with disinfectant.

Wear a mask to prevent breathing in spores.

We've managed to remove a significant amount of mud and silt from our roads and footpaths. We've also examined the drainage system to identify any issues and have now begun clearing the pipes. This work continues. 

Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has begun soil and water testing in the flood impacted areas of Maribyrnong.

Readings from initial on the ground testing for E. Coli - the bug that causes gastroenteritis - have come back low risk. However, given flood waters carry a range of other bacteria the EPA recommends continuing to avoid contact.

EPA officers are now going door to door to collect soil samples in Maribyrnong.

Individual results will be provided directly to property owners. Phone EPA’s Contact Centre on 1300 372 842 and selecting option 8 to request yours. 

Additional water quality monitors have also been placed in the Maribyrnong River, with the monitoring data feeding into a dedicated page on EPA’s website. 

The results of Council's soil and water testing from public spaces such as parks and sports fields along 7km of the riverbank will be shared next week.

EPA soil testing results update: 28 October

The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) have received results from the initial 109 soil samples taken from flood-impacted areas around the Maribyrnong River.

Results received from impacted gardens and open spaces along the River indicate that contaminants are generally below levels of concern.

Some of the residential areas within Maribyrnong contain slightly higher levels, likely due to legacy contamination issues.

On Tuesday 25 October, Council held a community meeting where representatives from Council, EPA, Disaster Recovery Australia, Emergency Recovery Victoria and cohealth were in attendance to share information with the community and answer questions. 

The meeting was livestreamed, and a recording can be viewed below. 

For up to date information visit the VicEmergency website.

For current road and traffic information visit the VicRoads website.