Preparing for the weather’s worst

SEVERAL projects across Greater Bendigo designed to help the region be better prepared and protected from future natural disasters have received funding from the Federal Government’s Disaster Ready Fund.

These initiatives to share in $425,200 include the development of flood mitigation plans for significant Bendigo waterways and a flood study project to assess, model and map areas at risk in Goornong.

The Bendigo electorate will also share in monies allocated to multiple municipalities for much-needed disaster preparedness projects.

Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters said the funded projects will help promote partnerships between local government and not-for-profit organisations like the Country Fire Authority, and help the community be ready in the event of another natural disaster like a flood or fire.

“We all remember what happened over the (past) summer and what happens when we get those extreme wet weather events,” she said.

“Climate change has had an impact on our region and therefore the City rightly put forward this (flood mitigation) project to say we want to update our flood studies so that we have a better understanding of where the waters go.

“The projects across LGAs giving the ability to support them to work better on coordination are also vital.”

The allocation is part of almost $387 million for 164 schemes in the second round of the fund. The first round saw $200 million provided for 185. A full list is available on the National Emergency Management Agency website.