East Gippsland Shire Council faces a significant financial burden in responding to disasters and supporting and rebuilding disaster-affected communities.
With around 75 per cent of East Gippsland being public land, efficient and effective disaster relief funding can help reduce the impacts on communities, build resilience and speed up reconstruction and recovery.
Mayor Cr John White said the management of public land for both environmental and fire-prevention purposes is a
significant priority.
“There is a need for significantly more resourcing of disaster prevention activities including both the management of public land – where most emergency events start – and resourcing infrastructure resizing to provide our region with the needed resilience and connectivity during and after emergency events,” he said.
The mayor said disaster relief and recovery funding issues have been considered at the state and national level, but now is the time for action. Council has been advocating for:
– All levels of government to collaborate and agree to reform and simplify the disaster recovery funding model.
– A significant increase in the resources allocated to preventative and resilience activities including infrastructure improvements.
– A commitment to better public land management practices.
– Expanding the scope of funding to better support local government authorities in covering the high costs associated with disaster response and relief work and rebuilding assets.
– Reducing red tape and ensuring funding and claims processes maximise the building of community resilience and consider the effects of consecutive and compounding disasters in a changing climate.
– Introducing a reasonable, evidence-based claims process that is standardised nationally.
– Supporting lead agencies to respond and reconstruct assets for sustainable development.
– Expanding funding to better support local government authorities to cover the high costs associated with disaster response and relief work, including policy change so assets can be improved when they are rebuilt.
– Recognising climate change will mean more frequent and severe disasters requiring resilient and sustainable infrastructure, especially in high-risk areas.
– Tying federal funding to the Victorian Government to improvements in public land management.
– Increasing funding for resilience and proactive infrastructure improvements rather than post disaster recovery – recognising that investment in prevention is a sound economic direction.
This issue is on a list of election priorities council had been advocating for prior to last Saturday’s federal election. The wish list includes priorities across a range of areas, including investments to improve roads and community safety, an audit of the Gippsland Lakes, support for economic transition, delivering cost-of-living relief to rural communities, better public land management, and investment in housing, telecommunications and the arts.
