Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund
Final Report March 2014
Image: Australian Red Cross logo
Image: State Government of Victoria Logo
Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund Final Report March 2014
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Contents
Messages ______________________________________________________________ 3
About the Fund _________________________________________________________ 5
Gifts __________________________________________________________________ 7
Helping People ________________________________________________________ 10
Helping People ________________________________________________________ 11
Partners ______________________________________________________________ 12
Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund Final Report March 2014
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Messages
Image: Ronald J Walker AC CBE
Ronald J Walker AC CBE, Chairman, Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund
The floods which devastated large parts of Victoria in January and February 2011 were some of the worst
on record. Many homes were left uninhabitable, whole communities were isolated, and there was
widespread damage to rural properties and farms.
As I visited flood-affected areas in the weeks after the disaster, I was struck by the extent of the damage to
people’s homes and the impact on their lives. In places such as Rochester and Charlton, about 80 per cent
of homes were affected, and in Charlton, about 95 per cent of the town’s businesses were closed for three
weeks.
The housing damage was more extensive than first expected. Many houses were empty shells; stripped of
wall plaster, floor coverings, cupboards and bathroom tiles. Soft furnishings and floor coverings had been
removed.
It was evident that many people would need considerable help to repair their households and replace
destroyed contents.
Since the Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund (VFDRF) was established by the Victorian Government
and Red Cross, I’m proud to report that the Fund has made a major difference to the lives of thousands of
flood-affected people throughout Victoria.
Through the overwhelming generosity of large and small companies, community associations and private
citizens, the Red Cross Victorian Floods Appeal 2011 was able to raise $17.96 million – including interest
- to assist victims of the floods.
Most of these funds were distributed to more than 2200 households from 421 towns and communities
across the state through the Damage to House and Contents Gift, providing invaluable support to people
at a time when they needed it most.
When deciding on how best to assist people recovering from the floods, the Panel was mindful of the need
to distribute the money fairly and equitably, taking into account the extent of the loss suffered while
prioritising those most in need.
The VFDRF was extremely grateful for a very generous donation from the German-Australian Chamber of
Commerce and Industry, which enabled the Panel to develop a $1.18 million Community Facilities Gift.
The Fund undertook extensive consultation with local councils and the Victorian Government when developing
the list of projects to attract funding through the Community Facilities Gift, which gave the Panel confidence
that high-priority infrastructure needs in each community would be met.
Following these consultations, the Panel approved a list of 26 projects in the 16 worst-affected Local
Government Areas to be funded through the Community Facilities Gift.
All projects funded under the Community Facilities Gift are now complete and provide significant
assistance to important community recreation facilities that were destroyed or damaged as a direct result
of the 2011 Victorian floods.
I am also pleased to advise that as at February 2014 every cent held in the VFDRF has been spent
assisting individuals, families and communities affected by the 2011 Victorian floods.
Finally, in commending this report to you, I want to place on the record again my sincere thanks to all those
who gave so generously to the Red Cross Appeal – your support has enabled us to make a lasting
contribution to the recovery efforts of thousands of flood-affected Victorian households.
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Image: Toni Aslett
Toni Aslett, Victoria Executive Director, Australian Red Cross
Recovery after an emergency as devastating as Black Saturday can be a long, tiring and complex
process. Five years on, the Red Cross continue to work with families and communities affected by the
2009 Victorian bushfires, thanks to the generosity of so many.
I am pleased to report that every single dollar raised by the Victorian Bushfire Appeal has been spent on
the individuals, families and communities who were severely impacted during this traumatic natural
disaster.
The Fund has accumulated $401 million in total, including $22 million in interest. About 95 per cent –
$383.3 million – has already been paid out over 46,000 payments, with the remaining $18.7 million
committed but not yet distributed.
The remaining funds are allocated to already approved programs and projects such as psychological
services, assistance for the bereaved, housing support and community building projects in affected
regions.
In the last year, funding has focused on supporting those who lost their homes to rebuild or secure longterm accommodation. In addition, a number of services aimed at medium and long-term recovery that
commenced in 2012 have been extended, for example, psychological support services.
Several small grants programs run by the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) and
Community Foundations have opened and are available to be accessed by all bushfire-affected
communities.
Together we have learnt invaluable lessons from our efforts following the 2009 bushfires. Red Cross
works every day to share this knowledge and better prepare Australian and overseas communities to deal
with future disasters.
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About the Fund
The Red Cross Victorian Floods Appeal 2011 was established on 17 January 2011 by the Victorian
Government in partnership with Australian Red Cross to help individuals, families and communities
impacted by the 2011 Victorian floods.
These were some of the worst floods in the state’s history; between 9-15 January 2011, between 100300mm of rain fell across two-thirds of Victoria. The rainfall initially caused flash flooding across western
and central parts of the state, and subsequent major and moderate flooding spanning north, west and
central Victoria.
After the rains began to subside, their cumulative effect caused some of the state’s major river systems to
swell, causing the flooding to spread across much of northwest Victoria.
Heavy rains and thunderstorms in early February caused more flash flooding, particularly in Mildura and
across metropolitan Melbourne.
The flooding caused widespread damage to residential homes and community infrastructure, including
public buildings and roads, and disrupted essential services such as water, electricity and
telecommunications. Many regional townships were left isolated.
The damage to households was extensive. Although not visible from the outside, many homes were
infested with mould throughout the internal plaster on the walls and ceiling, and behind bathroom and
kitchen tiles and cabinetry.
Numerous houses also suffered structural damage to the foundations, plumbing and wiring.
Thanks to the support of the countless people and businesses which donated to the Appeal, nearly $18
million was raised.
The Victorian Government appointed an independent Panel to oversee the allocation and distribution of
donated money.
Ron Walker AC CBE, was appointed chair of the Panel, which also included Toni Aslett (Victoria
Executive Director, Australian Red Cross), Alexandra Gartmann (Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for
Rural and Regional Renewal), and Pam White (Victorian Government representative). Panel members act
in a voluntary capacity.
At all times the Panel has sought to put into action its intent “to support individuals, families and
communities in areas affected by the 2011 Victorian floods”.
Image: Pie Chart of “Flood Assistance”
Data from Chart:
Stage
Percentage
Stage 1 Housing
Assistance
13%
Stage 2 Housing
Assistance
80%
Stage 3 Community
Facilities Gift
7%
Its decisions were based on delivering the most equitable distribution of funds while ensuring compliance
with Commonwealth charitable law requirements.
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The Red Cross Victorian Floods Appeal 2011 was run by Australian Red Cross. Red Cross is endorsed by
the Australian Tax Office (ATO) as a Public Benevolent Institution and a Deductible Gift Recipient, which
enables tax deductions for donors.
As a Public Benevolent Institution it must provide “direct relief of poverty, sickness, suffering, distress,
misfortune, disability or helplessness to individuals who are in demonstrable need of charity”.
Upon receiving donations, Red Cross transferred them to the Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund
through a trust account established by the Victorian Government.
All costs in administering the Fund are paid by the Victorian Government, ensuring that every cent raised
went towards flood-affected individuals, families and communities.
The Fund has several levels of audit accountability to ensure moneys were paid and used appropriately.
Independent auditors were appointed by Red Cross to audit all appeal moneys received by it and
transferred to the Trust Account.
Independent auditors have also been appointed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to conduct
periodic reviews of claims and assurance on the adequacy of internal control structures established in
respect of the collection, disbursement and investment of the Trust’s monies; over the management of
sensitive and personal information; and to provide any other advisory or assurance services necessary to
support probity and transparency around Fund monies.
The Victorian Auditor-General can audit the operations of the trust account as part of the annual audit of
the financial statements of the DHS. The Auditor-General receives reports from the Fund’s independent
Auditor.
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Gifts
Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of those who donated to the Appeal, $17.96 million was raised to
help flood-affected individuals, families and communities.
In the days and weeks after the floods, members of the independent Panel visited impacted communities
to talk with people and see first-hand the extent of the damage and to ascertain the areas of greatest
need.
It quickly became apparent that housing was the most urgent need for flood affected people.
Image: Flooding at Carisbrook
Damage to House and Contents Gift
With this in mind, in March, 2011, the Panel developed the Damage to House and Contents Gift – a twostaged payment - to assist households to recover from the devastation.
Stage 1 consisted of an immediate $1,000 payment to help households with the initial cost of repairs to
flood-damaged properties.
Stage 2 consisted of a further payment for those whose homes were more severely damaged and had the
greatest out-of-pocket costs.
Payments varied according to the extent of the damage and the costs associated with the repair and
restoration of flood-damaged homes and household contents.
Fund representatives embarked on a two week tour of flood-affected regions in order to assist people to
complete their applications.
These community consultations were staffed by members of the Fund’s Secretariat and Implementation
Unit, a grants officer, and a representative from Red Cross. The sessions were widely advertised online,
in print and on local radio.
About 300 people attended the consultations, which were held in Charlton, Kerang, Pyramid Hill,
Bridgewater, Rochester, Mildura, Creswick, Clunes, Carisbrook, Horsham and Glenorchy.
Applications for the Damage to House and Contents Gift were to close on 1 July, 2011, but this was
extended until 1 August, 2011, to provide households with more time to finalise their applications. Late
applications were accepted until 29 August, 2011.
The Damage to House and Contents Gift assisted more than 2200 households from 421 towns and
communities across Victoria.
The Fund paid $2.24 million in Stage 1 payments to 2206 applicants, and $14.56 million in Stage 2
payments to 1441 applicants.
This assistance made a significant difference in helping flood-affected people deal with the extensive
damage caused to their homes, helping to pay for the cost of repairs and the replacement of contents
destroyed in the floods.
When additional interest earned on the Fund became available in late 2013, the VFDRF was able to
provide an extra $34,000 in support to the 24 households most affected by the floods.
Community Facilities Gift
In April, 2011, the Panel developed the $1.18 million Community Facilities Gift, made possible thanks to a
Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund Final Report March 2014
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generous donation from the German-Australian Chamber of Industry and Commerce.
The intention of the donation was to provide assistance to repair or replace community recreation facilities
or equipment that were destroyed or damaged as a direct result of the January and February 2011 floods.
The Panel developed an equitable funds distribution model to benefit the 16 most significantly affected
Local Government Areas and wrote to councils advising them of the offer and asking them to identify and
scope priority projects within their local communities.
Previous disaster recovery experience within Australia and oversees had shown that communities were
best placed to determine initiatives that would work in their areas and that recovery is most effective when
it is locally-driven.
When the formal application process closed in October, 2011, more than 70 project submissions had been
received.
Mindful of the need to ensure compliance with Commonwealth charitable law, the VFDRF Secretariat
undertook a preliminary assessment of the submitted proposals, and then advised councils which ones
were likely to meet the eligibility criteria.
As there were a number of existing Government funds targeted at rebuilding community infrastructure for
flood-affected areas, the VFDRF worked closely with the Department of Planning and Community
Development, including Regional Development Victoria, and the Department of Sustainability and
Environment to minimise the risk of duplicating funding for projects and to reduce the administrative
burden on Councils in their applications.
Image: Donald Swimming Pool
Image: Campbells Creek Bowling Club
In December, 2011, the Panel signed off on funding for 26 projects in the 16 worst-affected Local
Government Areas, with 16 of the projects co-funded with the Victorian Government or philanthropic
agencies.
All projects under the Community Facilities Gift are now complete and being used by the community.
All projects under the Community Facilities Gift are now complete and being used by the community.
The full list of projects is as follows:
Local Government Area
Project
VFDRF Contribution
Buloke
Donald Swimming Pool
$90,000
Hindmarsh
Dimboola Rowing Club
$21,150
Edward Eyre Heritage Walking Track
$8,500
Dimboola Recreation Reserve
BBQ replacement
$6,500
Dimboola Sound Shell
$4,500
Dimboola Rowing Club - boat
launching ramp
$5,000
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Dimboola Netball Club
$24,242
Pyramid Hill Hall
$20,000
Serpentine Sports Centre
$55,000
Inglewood Sports Centre
$10,000
Pyrenees
Beaufort Netball Courts
$70,000
Yarriambiack
Rupanyup Tennis Courts
$83,309
Ararat
Wickliffe Community
Recreation Reserve
$77,561
Central Goldfields
Carisbrook Recreation Reserve
$88,780
Corangamite
Skipton Flood Memorial
$65,000
Montgomery Street Park
$2,500
Quambatook Hall
$37,500
Mead Hall
$15,000
Tragowel Hall
$17,500
Hepburn
Victoria Park in Clunes
$45,000
Mount Alexander
Campbell’s Creek Bowling Club
$67,500
Northern Grampians
Cato Park
$67,500
Horsham
St Michael’s Tennis Courts
$64,500
Mildura
Cardross Recreation Reserve
$84,500
Campaspe
Rochester Recreation Reserve
$84,500
Swan Hill
Woorinen Public Hall
$20,000
Loddon
Gannawarra
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Helping People
The Sunraysia region of northwest Victoria was one of the hardest hit areas in the 2011 floods.
Irymple resident Valerie McManus was forced to move out of her home on 5 February 2011, when
floodwaters swept through the house and caused significant damage to internal structures.
It was nearly six months before Ms McManus was able to return to her home.
“It’s just as well that I get on with my family here and could go and live with them while the house was
repaired,” she said.
Image: Valerie McManus and family
“The flooding was about 4-foot high in some places.
The plaster had to be redone and the floor coverings ripped up.
The beds needed to be replaced and the cupboards had to be rebuilt.
The garden died too.”
Ms McManus said the support she received from the VFDRF was instrumental to her recovery and she
thanked the many donors who gave so generously to the Appeal.
“I’m extremely grateful for the help from the Appeal – it was very much appreciated.”
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Helping People
The Carisbrook Recreation Reserve Cricket Training Nets were completely inundated during the 2011
floods and incurred significant short and long-term damage.
The Cricket Nets are open for community use all year round and are located in the Carisbrook Recreation
Reserve, which is an open parkland area in Carisbrook.
They are the only public cricket training facilities in Carisbrook and are used free-of-charge by local and
visiting participants.
The Cricket Nets provide an outlet for local families to play and practice cricket skills in a fully-accessible,
purpose-built environment, and are also used by the Carisbrook Cricket Club - made up of local
community members – during the summer months for training.
As a result of the 2011 floods, the condition of the Cricket Nets deteriorated to the extent that cricket balls
were penetrating the wire fencing and the concrete pitches became uneven, making it dangerous for
players.
Image: Carisbrook Cricket Nets
The replacement of the three Cricket Nets was one of the 24 community projects to attract funding
through the VFDRF’s Community Facilities Gift.
With $87,500 funding, the project replaced the Cricket Nets and the wire fencing, re-concreted the pitch
areas, and provided a new synthetic grass surface.
The project was completed in early 2013, meaning the community was able to use the facilities during the
2103 cricket season.
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Partners
Victorian Government
The Victorian Government committed to providing administrative support for the Victorian Floods Disaster Relief
Fund to ensure all donated funds go to flood-affected individuals and communities.
The Department of Human Services
(DHS) administers all gifts to flood-affected individuals through the Implementation Unit, and provides
administrative and policy support to the Advisory Panel through the Secretariat.
The Fund has also worked closely with other Victorian Government departments, including the Department of
Planning and Community Development and the Department of Environment and Sustainability, both of which were
consulted with in the process of determining projects to be funded through the Community Facilities Gift.
Red Cross
Red Cross is one of the world’s most recognisable charitable organisations with worldwide experience in disaster
management.
Red Cross established the Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund in partnership with the Victorian Government,
collected funds and transferred those funds to the Trust Account established for the VFDRF.
Red Cross and the Victorian Government jointly appointed members to the Advisory Panel.
Red Cross continues to serve as a member of the Panel and also provides invaluable expertise on the needs of
individuals and communities in the aftermath of disasters.
As a charitable organisation, the involvement of Red Cross ensured that all donations to the Appeal were tax
deductible. Red Cross also provides a direct interface with donors to the Appeal and continues to provide updates on
the progress of the Appeal Fund.
The Australian Taxation Office
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has also provided a high level of advice to the Appeal Fund Secretariat and
Advisory Panel since early 2011, to ensure all gifts for assistance meet relevant charitable tax law requirements.
By assessing proposals, the ATO has helped the Fund ensure that monies have been disbursed in a way that is
compliant with both taxation and charities legislation.
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Image: Australian Red Cross logo
Image: State Government of Victoria Logo
Victorian Floods Disaster Relief Fund Final Report March 2014
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