Storm and Flood Recovery News

It's now a year since the Yarra Ranges was hit by the worst storm in the region’s history, one that left a trail of destruction and a current damage bill of more than $16 million.

Hear how our impacted community has pulled together and the progress that's been made as we all embark on this recovery journey together. 

After consultation with community groups, Council offered small grants to enable community-led gatherings to support community wellbeing between Friday 27 May and Friday 24 June.

While the anniversary of the day has now passed there are still a number of small events to gather, reflect on shared experiences, and/or thank people who helped.

The June 2021 storm shook a sense of security for so many local people including Councillors who live in the area and like so many others had to weather the storm in their homes. 

Reflecting on that day, the Mayor and several councillors share their memories of the 9 June storm and the community response following it. 

Yarra Ranges Council donated 37 enormous logs to the Community Group Rescue Logs in April, to be repurposed into community-focused projects.

In a collaborative effort, VicForests covered the costs of transporting and delivering the logs to a property in Monbulk, while Yarra Ranges Council donated the materials themselves.

Over the past year Council has endeavoured to reuse as much fallen debris as possible with valuable logs being shared amongst the community for projects around the hills as a reflection of their significance to Yarra Ranges people and their value to the local biodiversity.

This sentiment was shared by Julia who said she founded the aptly called ‘Rescue Logs’ group to rescue logs from being mulched or used as firewood.

At the Badger Creek Men’s shed work is underway to repurpose Blackwood timber that Yarra Ranges Council donated to the group.

In February 2022, Yarra Ranges Council received a number of expressions of interest from local community groups, Men’s Sheds, and artists, many of which have now taken possession of the unique blackwood logs after they fell during the June storm.

182 pieces of the valuable wood were shared among 57 individuals and groups, including Badger Creek Men’s Shed.  Badger Creek Men’s Shed Treasurer Alan Jones said the organisation of 30 members relied on donated materials and that blackwood was very rarely donated because of its value.

Mayor Cr Jim Child, has called on insurance companies to provide some certainty for residents who are currently in temporary accommodation following the June 2021 storm.

Residents impacted by the June 2021 storm who are continuing to negotiate with their insurers may wish to contact Eastern Community Legal Centre (ECLC) who can provide free information, advice, and referrals for anyone in the storm affected areas. They are available Monday to Friday 9am-5pm on 1300 325 200. 

In March and April 2022, Council ran two Reimagining your Rebuild events, which were held to empower residents with the knowledge they need to assist them in their rebuilding journey.

Residents who are undertaking a full rebuild were invited to the private event and attendees were given the opportunity to speak with experts and residents in a supportive setting.

Videos taken from the Reimagine your Rebuild event are now publicly available and cover topics including: learning about the Planning Permit Application process and repair journey ahead, geotechnical engineer reports, health/septic presentations and biodiversity reports.

Do you know a young person (15-25) who was affected by the June 2021 storm in the Yarra Ranges?

Would you like to share your story as part of an exciting new Augmented Reality art project and exhibition?

Yarra Ranges Council has teamed up with UNSW to deliver an augmented reality (AR) project that will showcase AR stories developed by a diverse range of young people from the Yarra Ranges community who were impacted by the June 2021 storms.

Over recent months many storm impacted residents and communities have been reaching out to us for support, ideas, and resources to help them restore and rebuild their private gardens damaged or destroyed in the June 2021 storm or from subsequent clean-up works.

Many residents are now also faced with changes to the landscape and environment that surrounds their gardens. Gardens that were once covered by shade are now more exposed to sun, heat or cold.

To help our impacted residents reimagine their gardens and local environment, we will soon be launching our Healing in our Gardens project.

The Healing in our Gardens project will have three main focuses.

• My Garden Sanctuary   - where residents can come together and learn more about how to restore, reimagine and rebuild their own gardens
• Lending a Hand – Where residents can connect with and support each other and their communities, by sharing their gardening knowledge, experience, or physical skills.
• Beyond my Fence – Where residents can come together, learn more and be involved in supporting and caring for their local environment, biodiversity, sustainability, and place.

We’ll be sharing more details about this community recovery project, and the launch date of our Healing in our Gardens project with community, in next month’s Newsletter and across our social media platforms. 

If you want to find out more about the Healing in our Gardens now or register your interest to receive more information, please contact Deb Sargentson – Community Recovery at D.Sargentson@yarraranges.vic.gov.au