Melbourne Convention Centre offers disaster relief for bushfire victims

A relief centre has been set up at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre to offer food, water, medical supplies and support to those arriving from bushfire-devastated Mallacoota.

Melbourne Convention Centre support area for victims of the bushfires. Picture: Josie Hayden

A disaster relief centre has opened in Melbourne to assist people who have evacuated from fire-ravaged Mallacoota.

The relief centre at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre will offer essential services including food and water, medical support, pet services and will help facilitate off-site emergency accommodation for evacuated residents.

Melbourne Convention Centre support area for victims of the bushfires. Picture: Josie Hayden

The centre will be able to accommodate about 1000 people who are on-board HMAS Choules, which will dock at Hastings at 4pm on Saturday.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the City of Melbourne was offering any assistance requested by the State Government and other agencies.

Salvation Army assistant state director of Victoria Carolyn Spratling, volunteer Shenae Spratling, Lord Mayor Sally Capp and volunteer Nigel Mapes. Picture: Josie Hayden

“Melbourne is a very caring city and we’ve been inundated with support. This relief centre is set up with proper agencies and support for people who are coming from

Mallacoota,” Cr Capp said.

“We know this evening Choules will dock at Hastings and we’ll see people coming to this centre.”

Cr Capp said the situation affecting communities in bushfire affected locations across the country remained very serious, and acknowledged the incredible work of firefighters and emergency services.

Victoria Police Acting Superintendent Trevor King said a family attended the centre when the MV Sycamore docked this morning.

“The family were brought here. They are overseas tourists who have now been accommodated at Crown for the next five days,” Supt King said.

“A number of other families have attended and have been relocated through access to their insurance providers.”

Insurance Council of Australia’s Nick Wiesener said the insurance industry had been working closely with agencies to offer support to those coming from Mallacoota.

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“The insurance industry has reserved hundreds of rooms across Melbourne for residents,” Mr Wiesener said.

“For holiday-makers there are benefits under the motor vehicle policy for many insurers.”

Mr Wiesener said since November 8, there had been more than 5200 insurance claims.

“Our estimated total losses is $321 million – that ranges from Queensland, NSW, SA and Victoria, clearly that’s going to increase because there’s many residents that have lost their properties … and haven’t reached their insurers just yet.”

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Originally published as Melbourne Convention Centre offers disaster relief for bushfire victims