Australia: Flood Support Program Announced

The Victorian Coalition Government has today announced a $5 million program to restore flood damaged catchments and improve environmental conditions for tourism businesses and irrigators in flood affected areas.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan said the 2012 Flood Support Program would provide further assistance for regions impacted by severe flooding in March and June this year, with a focus on waterway restoration projects.

“In March 2012 widespread flooding occurred across the North East, North Central, East Gippsland and Goulburn Broken regions, causing significant damage to waterway assets,” Mr Ryan said.

“In June 2012, large areas across Gippsland and Corangamite experienced significant rainfall causing both short term (flash) and longer duration flooding – causing more than $6 million worth of damage to waterway assets.”

Mr Ryan said funding under the program would be allocated to Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) for a range of projects in each region.

– $2.7 million will go to the West Gippsland CMA to undertake a number of waterway restoration projects;

– $1 million will go to flood restoration projects in the East Gippsland catchment to provide further support following flooding earlier this year;

– $500,000 for flood restoration for projects in the North East catchment including revegetation activities in the Ovens River near Myrtleford;

– $485,000 to the Goulburn Broken CMA to support a range of projects including Whole Farm Planning in affected irrigation areas; and

– $285,000 for restoration projects in the Corangamite catchment for a range projects that focus on fencing, vegetation removal, erosion prevention and revegetation.

Minister for Water Peter Walsh said 15 projects in total would be supported through the 2012 Flood Support Program to deliver environmental, economic and social benefits to flood-affected communities.

“Through these important environmental projects, our waterways will be maintained and improved while also providing a number of employment opportunities for regional Victorians,” Mr Walsh said.

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Press Release, October 12, 2012