If you have been impacted by the flooding and storm events of 2024, support is available. Read the latest information on recovery support and flood recovery across the municipality.
Recovery support
The Emergency Recovery Victoria Recovery Hotline is available to assist communities affected by floods and storms in early 2024 (and by the October 2022 Victorian floods).
You will hear a number of options. Press 9 if you need a translator.
The hotline is able to assist with linking to a range of recovery services including mental health support and legal/insurance support. If you were severely impacted you may be eligible to be referred to a Recovery Support Worker.
It is understandable if you are feeling concerned and experiencing a mix of strong emotions.
Free Victorian Government funded mental health and wellbeing support is available to all people in flood impacted communities.
Bendigo Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub
Providing mental health wellbeing support to small businesses and community members in Greater Bendigo
Call 1300 375 330 or 0409 539 267
Bendigo and Echuca Mental Health and Wellbeing Local
Wellbeing support available via telehealth for Greater Bendigo, Loddon and Campaspe.
Bendigo: 03 5497 5600
Echuca: 03 5412 6600
Loddon Children's Health and Wellbeing Hub
Operated by Bendigo Community Health Services, the hub provides free health and wellbeing support for children up to 11 years old, and their families and carers.
Telehealth support options
In addition to locally based supports, broader state-wide supports are available to all people impacted by the recent flooding events, through the following telehealth support options:
ARC Justice provides free legal and housing help to people who are on a low income or experiencing other types of disadvantage. If you are affected by the recent storms and floods and are living in a rental home or public housing and have a problem with your tenancy, ARC Justice can assist.
Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) is Victoria’s consumer regulator who administers more than 30 legislative schemes in Victoria to ensure a fair, safe and competitive marketplace.
CAV provides information and assistance on your rights and responsibilities across renting, buying and selling property, and building and renovating.
CAV can answer all your questions about renting, from before you sign the lease until after you move out.
For helpful information and advice visit the CAV website or phone 1300 55 81 81
Agriculture Victoria provides support to impacted primary producers through its Agriculture Recovery Team. You can contact the team on 0427 694 185. This number is regularly monitored and provides a call-back service. For animal welfare support, call the Agriculture Victoria Animal Welfare hotline on 136 186.
Tenants Victoria gives free advice to people that rent residential accommodation in Victoria. It also offers a renter advice line and email advice service.
The Tenants Victoria webpage has a lot of helpful information or contact the renter support line on (03) 9416 2577.
The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is the representative body for the general insurance industry of Australia. ICA is unable to offer direct consumer advice or services, but for information on how to make a complaint or raise a concern with your insurer.
See the Department of Health flood factsheets for useful information on:
- Power outages after a flood
- Septic tanks in flood affected areas.
- After a flood Mould and your health
- How to protect yourself from mosquito borne diseases after a flood
- Private water sources in flood affected areas
Flood recovery
The City completed $2.8M of emergency and immediate reconstruction works across 350 locations last year. The City continues to undertake an extensive flood recovery works program:
- 8000+ reconstruction works identified across the municipality*
- 2170 works completed
- 700+ works in progress*
These works stretch across 65 suburbs and towns in Greater Bendigo and largely focus on:
- Excavation or removal of debris
- Road and shoulder grading
- Gravel re-sheeting
- Drainage structure reconstruction
- Pothole and road repairs
- Replacing signage and guidance posts
A dedicated Flood Recovery Works team will continue to coordinate works throughout 2025. For information on specific works, please email:
*Completion timelines and progress of works are dependent on contractor and equipment availability, with some works subject to Federal funding.
Priority projects
The City is investing $2.25M on drainage and culvert improvement across Greater Bendigo over the next three years. The focus is on fixing infrastructure that otherwise sees streets or suburbs cut off for a period when we have flood events. Work has commenced on several priority projects across the City:
Completed:
- Railway Place/Midland Highway, Goornong - drain reshaping and widening and vegetation management
- Strickland Street/Sullivan Street, Epsom - pipe realignment
- McIvor Forest Estate, Junortoun (upgraded wetlands pit)
In progress:
- Pasley Street, Huntly - drain reshaping/widening and driveway culvert upgrades
- Gungurru Road, Huntly - pit installation
Future projects:
- Domain Village, McIvor Highway, Junortoun - install new box culverts
- Willis Road, Huntly - install new box culverts (part of Huntly Drainage Improvement Plan)
Pit inspections and drain clearing:
- Dead Horse Gully/Shakespeare Street to Patterson Street, Heathcote (subject to Federal funding)
- Cameron Court/Aspiring Drive, Huntly (part of Huntly Drainage Improvement Plan)
- Peake Court/Strickland Street, Epsom
- Heathcote Redesdale Road/Moylans Road, Redesdale
Completion timelines and progress of works are dependent on contractor and equipment availability, with some works subject to Federal funding.
Federal grant applications
The City continues to seek funding to undertake priority projects and currently has pending funding applications for:
- $10M project for the construction of a Racecourse Creek levy (design already completed)
- $3M project for the construction of a Deadhorse Gully Trunk drain along Shakespeare Court, Heathcote
The City is also preparing several applications for projects for the next round of the Federal Disaster Ready Fund, including a municipality-wide Minor Culvert Upgrade Program.
Huntly Drainage Improvement Plan
Work on a Huntly Drainage Improvement Plan has commenced, with a feasibility study and recommendation report nearing completion. The plan includes the previously identified Huntly priority projects and the Gold Leaf Wetland Study. Next steps will be shared with the community in the coming months.
Flood Mitigation Action Plans
Work will soon commence on Flood Mitigation Action Plans for the Epsom, Huntly, Junortoun and Heathcote areas, with a focus on Bendigo Creek, Back Creek, Racecourse Creek, Splitters Creek and McIvor Creek. The goals of the action plans are to:
- Identify management actions aimed at mitigating flood risk while protecting and enhancing natural values (outcome different to SES Flood Guides)
- Clarify management responsibilities between relevant public agencies (Council, DEECA, Parks Victoria, NCCMA)
- Raise awareness for the community about the type of works that reduce flood risk and actions they can take
Goornong Flood Study
Work will also commence shortly on the Goornong Flood Study, which aims to:
- Identify areas of Goornong and surrounds prone to flooding to help inform land use and development outcomes in the draft Goornong Structure Plan
- Identify planning scheme overlays for areas at risk of flooding and consider local mitigation measures
Staffing
Recruitment is underway for a Flood Planning and Waterways Projects Officer to lead the Goornong Flood Study and Flood Mitigation Action Plans. Community and stakeholder engagement will start in mid-2025 and we look forward to engaging with community members to seek their input.
City staff are working with community groups and Neighbourhood Houses to support community members impacted by flood and storm events across the municipality. Keep up-to-date with the latest information on our website, your local Neighbourhood House or Community Action Group, or email:
Marong
The City supported the Marong Community Action Group (MCAG) who hosted a community resilience workshop at the Marong Community Hall in March. The session brought together 40 community members to explore the first steps in developing a community resilience action plan. More workshops will be scheduled throughout the year. To get involved, email:
The City continues to work with the Marong Neighbourhood House in supporting community connection and emergency preparedness events. For information on upcoming events, email:
Junortoun
The City hosted a Flood Recovery ‘round up’ meeting with the Junortoun Community Action Group (JCAG) in February, reporting on the progress of flood recovery works, projects and activities to date, and discussing future priorities. Another workshop has been scheduled to discuss community emergency and resilience planning priorities. For more information, email:
Goornong
In February, the City hosted a Flood Recovery ‘round up’ meeting with the Goornong and District Emergency Planning Group (GDEPG), reporting back on the progress of flood recovery works, projects and activities to date, and discussing future priorities. Another workshop has been scheduled to discuss community emergency and resilience planning priorities. For more information, email:
Maiden Gully
City staff are working with the Maiden Gully Progress Association (MGPA) to bring a nature-based resilience program to Maiden Gully, with a key focus on identifying emergency and resilience planning priorities for the community. For more information, email:
Heathcote
The City continues to work with the Heathcote Community House and Heathcote Safer Town Working Group in supporting community connection and emergency preparedness events. For information on upcoming events, email:
City staff have been attending community events to talk with residents about the importance of understanding the risks in their area and having an emergency plan.
We have new resources on our website to help you get ready for emergencies like fires, floods, service disruptions, and heatwaves.
If you would like to help your community or organisation to be better prepared for emergencies, please email:
If you would like a City drain inspected or to discuss flooding around your property with the City’s engineering team, please email:
For all other general flood recovery enquiries and requests, email:
Disasters such as floods increase existing gender inequalities and cause unequal health, social and economic outcomes that are more likely to affect women.
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee has undertaken a range of activities in partnership with stakeholders across the Loddon Mallee region in response to the floods experienced in October 2022. In addition, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee has undertaken research with women across the Loddon Mallee region to capture their lived experience of the floods.
This report will provide insights into women’s lived flood experiences, a framework for considering women’s wellbeing and empowerment in the planning, response and recovery stages of floods, and recommendations for action.
If your property is uninhabitable or damaged, the City’s Rates unit can assess if a property is eligible for a rate revaluation.
- Phone the City to discuss your situation and work out what assistance is available, call 1300 002 642
- Contact a free financial counsellor by calling the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007
- Experiencing financial hardship can impact your mental health. If you are worried about your mental wellbeing, contact Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636