Council left to pay $55 million clean up bill despite repeated requests for support

The Yarra Ranges is facing an impossible choice as fire season looms – continue its storm recovery or cut services.

The aftermath of the June 9 storm that smashed the Dandenong Ranges. Up to 25,000 trees were felled across the region including in Kalorama. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Wayne Taylor

Yarra Ranges Council is still waiting for disaster relief funds to cover the $55 million clean up of the Dandenongs after a savage storm in June.

The council has already spent $10.5 million on the recovery but said it couldn’t cope alone with the scale and cost of the work still needed.

“The impacts of such a large and devastating event are well beyond our resourcing and financial capacity,” Mayor Fiona McAllister said.

She said the council had fast tracked clean up work on the understanding the state and federal governments would pick up the tab.

A June storm caused extensive damage including power outages that lasted weeks. Picture: Jason Edwards

“With such extensive storm and flood damage, a looming fire season and the need to prepare for the reopening of Victoria in November after tough COVID-19 restrictions, we’ve just gotten on with the job,” Cr McAllister said.

She said the cost of the work was usually covered by natural disaster funding.

However, the council was yet to receive confirmation the money would be reimbursed and further funding provided to support other recovery works.

On Wednesday Liberal State MP Evelyn MP Bridget Vallence asked parliament why funding was delayed.

“Yarra Ranges council have submitted five business cases to the state government for funding, including for collection of fallen trees and recovery of structures, roads, infrastructure and bushland, yet the Andrews Labor government has failed to take action when it is critically needed, causing uncertainty and anxiety for local residents and the council,” she said.

“It will not cost state coffers a cent so it is astonishing that the Andrews Labor government would delay providing these funds to communities that desperately need it.”

On Thursday the council released a powerful video explaining the damage left by the wild winds and flood as part of a plea for support.

This home at 159 Monbulk-Emerald Rd was crushed by a tree that fell during the storm, Picture by Wayne Taylor 15th June 2021

The video revealed that 75 houses were left inhabitable and a further 135 were damaged by the storm that felled 25,000 trees and affected 300km of the Yarra Ranges road network, preventing businesses from receiving customers for more than a month.

A total of 54,000 homes and businesses also lost power.

“We require significant assistance from both the State and Federal Government, and we need confirmation around what assistance will be made available,” Cr McAllister said.

Cr Burnett-Wake said without financial support the council couldn’t continue the storm recovery and pay for other services.

“It’s a hypothetical at this stage but we could be in the position where we have to choose between the recovery and picking up the bins.”

She said the “looming dread” of a fire season had intensified the urgency of clearing storm debris.

“People are scared,” she said.

Kalorama and Mount Dandenong fire captain Bill Robinson – featured on the council’s video – said a lot of people needed a lot of help.

“There is a lot of material on the ground. It’s the foliage and stuff that’s lying around that’s going to be the problem.

“We will have a much higher fuel load than we’ve had up there for a very, very long time.”

A State Government spokeswoman said the a wide range of tailored relief and recovery support services had been provided to Victorian communities impacted by the June storm.

She said Bushfire Recovery Victoria was co-ordinating recovery programs such as extensive clean up efforts and supporting councils and communities to ensure local priorities were met.

“This includes the Personal Hardship Assistance Program, the state funded clean-up program and the dedicated $9 million Recovery Support program, with dedicated workers to help anyone impacted with practical, health and wellbeing support.

“The Government continues to work closely with local communities, including the Yarra Ranges, to understand their ongoing and emerging needs and additional support will be announced soon.”