Press Releases

Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan launched a new campaign today urging Victorians to avoid risk-taking behaviour such as driving, swimming or playing in floodwater.

Mr Ryan said the important initiative was part of the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) FloodSafe Week campaign running from 30 April to 6 May and would encourage flood risk awareness and preparedness.

“Floodwater is dangerous, you don’t know what you are getting into,” Mr Ryan said.

“We have seen first-hand the devastating effects flooding has had on our community and risk-taking behaviour like driving, swimming or playing in floodwater is just asking for trouble.”

Mr Ryan said from earlier this year widespread flooding had isolated communities, inundated homes and closed hundreds of roads in one of the wettest periods on record for some regions since the late 1800s.

“In the last 18 months alone, both regional and metropolitan Victoria has been hit by extreme and unprecedented rainfall, causing some of the worst floods in the state’s history,” Mr Ryan said.”

Mr Ryan said during the last three major flooding events in Victoria calls for help to the SES jumped ten-fold.

“The message is clear – don’t be fooled. Floodwater may look innocent and placid on the surface, but underneath it is a completely different story. It can change in a minute without warning,” Mr Ryan said.

“Driving through floodwater is the number one cause of adult deaths during floods and playing or swimming in floodwater is just as dangerous, and is the number one cause of child and teenage deaths during floods.

“Aside from the risk of death, floodwater is full of churning toxic waste and hidden debris such as barbed wire and tree branches.

“Even shallow water has enough force to wash your car completely off the road. Once you have lost traction, there is nothing you can do. You can become trapped within seconds.”

Mr Ryan said a new Victorian Government-funded advertising campaign would feature during FloodSafe Week to highlight the hidden dangers lurking within floodwater.

“The catch phrase of this campaign is ‘You don’t know what you’re getting into’, highlighting dangers and targetting risk-taking behaviour such as driving, riding, or playing in floodwater,” Mr Ryan said.

In conjunction with the campaign, SES volunteers will hold events in and around local communities to raise awareness about the dangers of floodwater.

For more information about FloodSafe Week go to www.ses.vic.gov.au.

Media contact: Clare Siddins 0429 507 541  Read More

Additional assistance will be made available for flood-affected farms, businesses and communities in two Victorian communities, Commonwealth Attorney-General Nicola Roxon and Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan announced today.

Under Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA), flood-affected primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in the local government areas of Towong and Indigo can access up to $25,000 for clean-up and recovery grants.

These grants are already available in Greater Shepparton and Moira.

“We want to help these local economies recover as quickly as possible. The grants will be of enormous benefit to help farms, businesses and communities by funding clean-up activities, grants to community service organisations, replacement of damaged equipment, stock and other general repairs,” Ms Roxon said.

Mr Ryan said the latest flood support came on top of existing joint Commonwealth- Victorian government NDRRA funding already announced.

“It is important that these communities receive the assistance they need to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” Mr Ryan said.

“Both governments are committed to giving a much needed boost to those eligible small businesses and primary producers directly impacted by the floods.

“As more impact data becomes available, the Victorian Coalition Government will continue to work with the Commonwealth to establish which additional local government areas have been severely affected and may be eligible for the $25,000 clean up and restoration grants.”

These grants are in addition to the personal hardship and distress assistance and the funding to councils for the restoration of essential public assets and certain counter disaster operations already provided under the NDRRA for these floods.

Applications for these grants can be made by calling Rural Finance Corporation Victoria on (03) 5448 2600 or visiting www.ruralfinance.com.au.

“The Commonwealth Government, through Emergency Management Australia, will work closely with the Victorian Government to ensure that the affected communities have all the support they require during this difficult period,” Ms Roxon said.

For more information on assistance available please visit www.disasterassist.gov.au.  Read More

Generous Victorians wanting to volunteer their skills to help flood-affected communities are being urged to register at Victoria’s Volunteering Portal.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services Peter Ryan today thanked Victorians for their outpouring of support and said volunteers interested in helping would be called on in the weeks and months to come.

“Emergency response efforts are currently underway so in the first instance it is important to stay clear of flood-affected areas so that emergency services personnel can assess the damage and decide on the best course of relief action,” Mr Ryan said.

“The clean-up and recovery efforts for the floods will be a long and complex process, and those who register to volunteer can help in the near future, starting with essential clean-up and then later for professional and trade-related activities.

“I’d encourage people wanting to find out about volunteering and those wanting to help to register at Victoria’s Volunteering Portal.

“Based on feedback following last year’s floods, the Emergency Volunteer Register at Victoria’s Volunteering Portal www.volunteer.vic.gov.au has been upgraded to improve its effectiveness as the one-stop shop for all potential volunteers and an important resource for local councils in the event of an emergency.”

Mr Ryan encouraged members of the public who wished to help in emergency recovery efforts to register their details on the Emergency Volunteer Register in the first instance, rather than contact local councils or travel straight to affected areas.

“Potential volunteers should follow the links on the portal to ‘Volunteering in an Emergency’ and register their interests and skills,” Mr Ryan said.

“As local councils in affected areas identify their particular needs, they will get in touch with registered volunteers as required.

“I urge volunteers to be patient as there will be some initial delays as local councils and agencies manage the immediate safety and well-being issues in communities.”

Mr Ryan also encouraged councils to direct potential volunteers to the register so that they can then find suitable volunteers as required.

“The Emergency Volunteer Register has been designed to support local government processes for responding to spontaneous volunteer interest and to help reduce the number of well intentioned, spontaneous volunteers coming to areas affected by an emergency, which could add to the pressure on local councils,” Mr Ryan said.

To register as an emergency volunteer visit Victoria’s Volunteering Portal www.volunteer.vic.gov.au.

Anyone in flood-affected areas needing support can contact the Victorian Government Flood and Storm Information Line on 1300 842 737. This includes requests for assistance from SES or referral to information about financial assistance, emergency shelter and other available support.

Media contact: Sonia Heath 0413 485 526  Read More

Flood-damaged community infrastructure in Hepburn Shire will be repaired with the help of $99,000 in funding from the Victorian Coalition Government. Read More

Minister for Emergency Management, Robert McClelland MP and the Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan today announced that financial assistance will be made available to communities affected by the heavy rain and flash flooding across Victoria on 18 and 19 December 2011. Read More

Victoria’s families and communities have made significant progress in recovering from one of the state’s worst floods in living memory, according to a new report released by the Victorian Coalition Government.  Read More

Premier Ted Baillieu and Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services Peter Ryan today released the Final Report of the Review of the 2010-11 Flood Warnings and Response, undertaken by Neil Comrie AO APM. Read More

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional and Rural Development Peter Ryan has announced $1.9 million for important new infrastructure works in the Gannawarra Shire. Read More