Support slated for flood recovery

A SUPPORT package is now available to assist in the recovery efforts of central Victorian farmers, businesses, non-profits, and sporting clubs affected by the floods.

Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters announced the support at the Marong Neighbourhood House on Wednesday, and said the package is about helping to rebuild communities.

“A lot of our community infrastructure and our farmers really bore the brunt of what happened on those days,” she said.

“The Federal and State Labor Governments are teaming up to get support to those who were really impacted by the flood event.

“We’re in a recovery stage. These grants will really help local businesses, not-for-profit organisations, sporting clubs and our farmers get back to creating, get back to playing, and get back to work.”

Up to $50,000 will be available for eligible businesses and non-profits with the option of up to $200,000 for medium and larger businesses.

Farmers can apply for up to $75,000, adding to the up-to $250,000 grant available through the Primary Producer Concessional Loan Program, which aims to assist flood-impacted farmers with debt and general expenses.

Sporting clubs will be eligible for between $5000 and $50,000 depending on recovery requirements.

Marong Neighbourhood House coordinator Janine Cornish said the package will be a great help for people to rebuild.

“It is an absolutely fantastic thing. I’ve been, over the years, involved with sporting clubs out of Malone Park. The devastation that was there, the bowls club was underwater,” she said.

“The clubrooms for the Football Netball [Club] didn’t go under but [with] the oval, all the fences have been knocked down. The tennis courts have had a good layer of mud over the top.

“It’s been cleaned up to a certain degree but there’s still a lot of work to do so this money is just amazing.”