Acting Emergency Services Minister Anthony Carbines last week announced Emergency Recovery Victoria had started delivering 20 short-term modular houses that would be available in the coming weeks for flood-affected people.
Priority will be given to residents transitioning from Elmore Village, the emergency accommodation space at the site of the Elmore Field Days, which was set up in response to Rochester residents wishing to remain close to the town.
The homes come in one, two and three-bedroom designs and include a split kitchen and living area, a bathroom and a deck. The homes are furnished and can be customised to meet specific needs such as mobility access requirements.
Their location at Rochester Caravan Park means residents will be closer to their homes and can start to re-settle back into the community. The temporary homes were previously provided to residents affected by the 2019-20 bushfires who have now completed their rebuild.
The modular housing is one option that the state government and ERV are offering residents still recovering from the floods, with tailored support being made available to all affected Victorians via the Flood Recovery Support Program.
The program includes a recovery support worker for every displaced resident to act as a single point-of-contact to help with accessing information, advice and support with housing needs.
Recovery support workers can also help residents get support for their mental health and wellbeing needs, with Anglicare Victoria, MIND and Echuca Regional Health all providing services in Rochester. Mental health and recovery supports are also available Monday to Friday in person at the recovery hub currently operating out of Rochester Community House.
With the upcoming closure of Elmore Village, Anglicare Victoria’s recovery support workers are working closely with flood-affected residents to provide tailored support and a clear pathway to secure accommodation.
More than 300 people have accessed emergency accommodation at Elmore Village. Most of those residents have been supported into suitable alternative accommodation, such as public housing, private rental accommodation, or a return to their original homes.
Less than 80 people remain at Elmore Village, and all will be supported into suitable accommodation ahead of its closure if they cannot return to their own homes.
More than $10 million in emergency relief and re-establishment payments have been provided to flood-affected people in Campaspe Shire, including Echuca and Rochester, with more than 460 organisations in the shire receiving flood relief and recovery funding valued at $3.5 million.
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