Storm Event Update

Drop into Council’s Recovery Centre located at the Mirboo North and District Community Foundation for help connecting to mental health, wellbeing, financial and business advice services.

Open: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10.00am and 3.00pm.

Chainsaw Training — Saturday 22 and Sunday 23 June

This training was a priority highlighted in community feedback relating to recovery from the Storm event. It is being brought to the community later this month through the efforts of the Gippsland Community Leadership Program. For more information, please email: safesawing@outlook.com

Plants and Planting for Gardens — Sunday 23 June

Everyone who has suffered damage to their gardens from the storm are welcome to come and get some advice on replanting, choose a donated plant, or even have some assistance with planting. This will be hel from 10.00am to 3.00pm on Sunday 23 June. For more information, please see the poster or drop into the Co-Space (96 Ridgway).

Thank You Event — Saturday 6 July

The Mirboo North Storm Cell Volunteers are running a 'thank-you' event on the evening of Saturday 6 July from 5.00pm at the Mirboo North Shire Hall. The event will be an opportunity to celebrate the response and recovery efforts, meet the volunteers, community members and other groups involved. A free BBQ will be provided along with music. Please RSVP by Monday 1 July to 0419 155 504. BYO nibbles and drinks.

Mirboo North and District Community Recovery Session

If you were unable to attend the Rob Gordon session at the Shire Hall last month, it is now online. Rob talks about the experience of a disaster and how we recover from that individually and as a community. You can watch the session when it suits you below or by clicking here.

Rob Gordon explained that events are a really important part for community recovery - lots of different types of events to suit lots of different tastes. If you or your organisation is interested in running an event, please reach out to the Mirboo North & District Community Foundation through recovery@southgippsland.vic.gov.au. You can also visit the Community Foundation for some financial support from the Community Recovery Fund.

Free Disaster Waste Disposal Ends Soon

Due to the significant scale of impact on the Mirboo North and surrounding area, an extension of the free disaster waste* disposal was granted to the end of June.

In order for disposal to be covered under this extended program, people disposing of disaster waste at the Mirboo North Transfer Station will need to provide the property address of where the waste has come from.

The extension ends on 30 June 2024. After this date, the Mirboo North Transfer Station will return to its normal operating hours.

If you have any questions about this extension, please contact Council on 5662 9200.

* Disaster waste is defined as any material deposited on a property by an emergency (green waste generated by the emergency), or material damaged by the emergency that is required to be disposed of as part of the recovery from the emergency.

The Working Group are still keen to get more community input into the recovery process. Every household in Mirboo North should have received a Storm Recovery Community Feedback and Important Information Flyer in their mailbox.

Please drop completed feedback forms into the suggestion boxes at the Library, Co-Space or Bank by Friday 28 June. Alternatively, you can scan the QR code on the Flyer which will link you to an online feedback form if that suits you better.

Here’s how you can get in touch:
Email – recovery@southgippsland.vic.gov.au
Online Survey – To provide your feedback online, please click here. 
Drop In – On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week the Co-Space hosts the Recovery Centre. Feel free to drop in and have a chat with the officers who are there on those days, they can help you fill out your suggestion.
Poster Post Its – Community Posters are set up in the Recovery Centre, Library, Community Shed, Bank and St. Mary’s Church. At these points you will be able to write your suggestions directly on the posters or pop it in a suggestion box. 
In-Person – If you would like to give feedback in person, you can speak to one of the local members of the Working Group directly: Bernadine Brullo (Storm Cell Volunteers), Vaya Dauphin (MNSC Principal), Wayne Roberts (MN Rec Reserve President), Jess Healey (Storm Cell Volunteers), Kelly McCarthy (MCDI President), Doug Parke (CFA Treasurer), Ruth Rogan (Community Foundation), Andy McCarthy (Energy), Belinda Seabrook (Reverend at St. Mary's), Anne Marie Dieperink (Community Bank) and Marg Thomas (Environment / Preserve Our Forests).

Recovery Support

Depending on what you need, recovery support can be as simple as telephone advice on what services are available, or connecting you with programs that can help you.

If you were severely impacted by the storm, you may be eligible for a Recovery Support Worker. They can work with you over time to find and access the support you need. To find out more, call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 or visit the Recovery Support website: www.vic.gov.au/recovery-support

Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) Clean-Up Help

This veteran-led not-for-profit organisation now have boots on the ground. DRA's volunteers will assist community members most in need to clean-up storm damage on their properties. To be eligible, the clean-up work must not be covered by insurance. Register by calling the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760. Free disaster waste disposal is still available at the Mirboo North Transfer Station until 30 June 2024.

Removal of Dangerous Trees

If you have hazardous trees on your property that are a direct result of the February 2024 Victorian storms, and those trees could fall, or have a branch fall, within 30 metres of your home or the main access to your home, you can register for hazardous tree removal through Emergency Recovery Victoria. Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 or visit the Recovery Support website: www.vic.gov.au/recovery-support

Free Outreach Legal Service

The free Legal Outreach Service at the Co-Space provided by Gippsland Community Legal Service and Victorian Legal Aid continues every second Thursday from 10.00am to 3.00pm (this month: 27 June and 9 July). The attending lawyer will assist with any queries you have such as insurance delays, tenancy issues or more general queries. Remember that you can call them any time on 1800 004 402.

Mirboo North Golf Course Re-Opens!

The Mirboo North Golf Club has re-opened for members and green fee players from Wednesday 12 June.

Congratulations and thank you to the Golf Club volunteer committee for all of their time and efforts to achieve this result after such widespread damage, and to Emergency Recovery Victoria (ERV) for making the course safe with a team of arborists, and the Disaster Relief Australia volunteers.