Flood Assistance Initiative: Rural Coordination Officers
Nine Rural Coordination Officers will be put in place to work across 11 Local Government areas impacted by the recent floods.
These positions will be placed with critically affected councils that need additional support to respond to the impact of the floods.
The Rural Coordination Officers will be in addition to the 13 Flood Recovery Officers already in place and will be dedicated to responding to and coordinating recovery efforts for rural/farm issues such as:
- Coordination of volunteers for farm assistance including fencing;
- Coordination with Catchment Management Authorities;
- Coordination with primary industry representatives and businesses such as local milk processors;
- Coordination of other farm specific issues such as rubbish collection and farm access; and
- Liaising with the Department of Human Services to link out reach services to farmers, farm families and rural small businesses.
The Victorian Department of Primary Industries will coordinate this project in conjunction with councils.
Councils to receive funding for a Rural Coordination Officer will be:
- Buloke
- Campaspe
- Gannawarra
- Loddon
- Horsham/Yarriambiack (to share an officer)
- Northern Grampians
- Central Goldfields/Pyrenees (to share an officer)
- Mildura
- Swan Hill
Why
The scale of issues that councils are facing following the floods mean that they will need additional resources to support their farming communities.
The councils requiring this additional support have been identified in consultation with the Municipal Association of Victoria (MAV), the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) and other Government departments.
Cost/Duration
The Victorian Coalition Government is providing $540,000 to fund these positions for six months.
Further information
For further information contact DPI on 136 186.
