Flood recovery an ongoing effort

NEARLY half a year has passed since Creswick’s south was hit by a supercell storm and subsequent flooding, and with some residents still seriously affected community organisations have been doing their part to help.

Creswick Lions Club president Pat Tacey said over 70 people were impacted by the floods, many of whom are still displaced.

“There’s still a lot of people not back in their houses. We had something like 140 millilitres of rain and 18 inches of hail in the south end of the town up towards the golf club,” he said.

“We want to help people survive the time, to give them a bit of money to help replace things, even just to give them a little bit of a welfare kick as well.

“Even today, I’m talking to people and they’re still very fragile with what’s happened and how far they’ve got with their repairs and replacements.”

A combined effort by Lions clubs, have raised over $77,000 for flood-affected residents including Bunnings, Spotlight and Kmart vouchers aimed at helping replace bedding, clothing and furniture.

Many of the town’s facilities are still closed for public access like the RACV resort – home to the local golf club – and Mr Tacey said it “hasn’t been occupied since the night of the storm.”

He also said some people still hasn’t returned to their homes since the storm.

“There’s still four houses in my street that are uninhabitable because works haven’t been done on them, and I know others around the town that are the same,” Mr Tacey said.

“I had one couple who were put in a caravan park but the insurance company hadn’t paid the park fees so I had to put them up for a time until the company finally came to the party.”

Mr Tacey said the club plans to hold a welcome back party when people can return to their homes, and though much of the need for financial support has passed, those wanting to help can offer it in other ways.

“At this stage, emotional support is the more important thing, understanding that people have been impacted severely, and they are fairly fragile right now,” he said.

“Financially, we’re probably not really looking for anything at this stage. Instead, people might need help to set up back in their house soon or with their gardens, that sort of thing.”