Olinda Community Meeting - Conversation summary

Yarra Ranges Council, in partnership with emergency services and state government, are holding a series of Storm Recovery Community Meetings to provide an update on storm recovery and answer your questions.

 

Purpose

On Sunday 27 June 2021, we visited the Olinda Recreation Reserve to hear from residents who were impacted by the recent storms.

The purpose of the community meeting was to provide a safe space for community members to share their stories, ask questions and tell us what support they need. 

You said

  • Connectivity in an emergency is a concern
  • Clean-up needs to happen soon, and you can’t do it alone
  • It’s hard to know what roads are open and to who
  • You worry about future emergencies
  • Vegetation, biodiversity, and environment has been significantly impacted
  • Fallen trees need to be safely removed
  • The wood from fallen trees should be used to improve the community
  • Businesses are struggling – we need tourists and visitors to keep the doors open

You suggested

  • Free firewood should be available for storm affected communities
  • Mulch to be left at football ovals
  • Fallen trees to be used within the community – sculptures, traditional owners smoking ceremony and healing, repair damaged buildings, furniture
  • Identification labels for residents’ cars to pass through roadblocks seamlessly
  • A relief centre set up on the hill
  • Better power and NBN solutions
  • Compile a book of community stories and sell that book – the proceeds would then be donated 

We heard

  • You need relief and recovery information in print form, not just online or by phone
  • You need help, guidance, and advice for clean-up
  • Connectivity, telephone, NBN needs to be addressed
  • Road access is a priority and you’d like updates on roads as they’re cleared
  • You are interested in planning for future weather events including a safe migration down the mountain
  • Businesses need support after the storms but also after COVID-19 restrictions
  • You would like a centralised place for all storm recovery information, including contact details 

What's happening

We gathered all relevant relief and recovery agencies in one place so you could hear from them.

Council is:

  • working with State Government, relief and recovery agencies to provide a coordinated response to the storm
  • committed to community safety
  • offering green waste and debris collection sites, as well as mulch
  • calling on the State Government to help with clean-up
  • working closely with community members and businesses to understand their specific needs and support their recovery.  

What's next

  • We’ll hold community meetings across Yarra Ranges to understand what’s needed in each community
  • We’ll consult with local businesses and community to inform plans for programs that support community-led recovery
  • We’re working with Bushfire Recovery Victoria to identify what the best clean-up approach is
  • We’ll continue to work through the large number of tree and drainage requests across the municipality to help with road safety and access 
  • Continue to advocate to the State Government for support with the clean-up of public and private property
  • We’ll establish four ‘Community Recovery Committees’ that will help individuals and communities over the short to medium term recover from impacts of both COVID-19 and the storm.
  • We’ll continue to provide the community with relevant and updated information as the recovery from the storm event carries on.
  • We’ll advocate for better telecommunications infrastructure to mitigate black spots

If you or someone you love was impacted by the storm and needs help, please call 1300 368 333.

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