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City of Greater Shepparton
URL: http://www.greatershepparton.com.au/councilsupportsneighbourhingcouncilshitbybushfires.html
Please note: this is an archived news article release.
This article was published on 9 February 2009. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.
Council supports neighbouring councils hit by bushfires
News article released on Monday 9 February 2009
Greater Shepparton Mayor Geoff Dobson personally extended Greater Shepparton City Council’s offer of support and assistance to Mitchell Shire Council, Greater Bendigo City Council, Murrindindi Shire Council, Indigo Shire Council and Alpine Shire Council yesterday.
Mayor Geoff Dobson said he had received responses from most of his fellow Mayors thanking us for our thoughts and support."Although Greater Shepparton is not directly affected by the bushfires, we are working hard to assist our neighbours in whatever way we can," Cr Dobson said.
"A number of Council staff are fighting the fires, including Council's Municipal Emergency Manager Ian Martin, who is in Beechworth to assist the fire response coordination in that area.
"Council has offered to hold stock from the affected municipalities in the Shepparton Regional Saleyards, until such time as fences can be repaired and stock feed brought in.
"Two of Council's Community Rangers are also providing assistance to Murrindindi Shire Council in the difficult task of destroying burnt stock.
"Council's Operations Centre is providing crews to help clear roads in fire ravaged areas of Mitchell Shire; these include grader operations, a back hoe and tree clean up crews.
"Council's Environmental Health Officers and building surveyors are on standby and are likely to be called on during the next few days and weeks to provide their professional services across the Hume region.
"Council staff may also be called upon to provide relief staffing in the Municipal Emergency Coordination Centres which have been established by affected councils or to assist with the basic day to day operations in municipalities which have the majority of their own employees working directly on emergency relief."
GENERAL FIRE INFORMATION
- Bushfire Information - For information on fires in Victoria please contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on freecall 1800 240 667 or visit the following websites www.cfa.vic.gov.au or www.dse.vic.gov.au/fires .
- Missing Persons - Anyone attempting to track down relatives or friends from fire affected areas should contact the Red Cross on 1800 727 077. As usual, the Red Cross are registering all those who have attended relief or recovery centres and are urging anyone else who has left a fire affected area to register with them.
- Counselling Services - People who are suffering grief or loss due to the bushfires can contact Council's Recovery Team on 5832 9700 or Goulburn Valley Community Health Service on 5823 3200. Immediate phone counselling is also available by contacting LifeLine on 13 11 14.
- Road Access Information - Information about road closures is available from VicRoads' website traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/trafficinfo. Visitors to the region are advised to stay away from fire-affected areas and to observe signed road closures.
- Other Health Issues During Bushfires - The Department of Human Services has a number of information sheets on health issues relevant to bushfire recovery. These can be accessed through the DHS website www.dhs.vic.gov.au .
- Accommodation - Council has established an accommodation database for people who have called offering spare rooms, granny flats, caravans and motel rooms. We do not anticipate large volumes of people wishing to relocate to take up these offers, but if anyone is interested in offering quality accommodation please contact Kristie Lynch at Council on (03) 5832 9700 or kristie.lynch@shepparton.vic.gov.au to confirm what style of accommodation is available, for how long, if pets are allowed, your contact details and anything else of note.
- Material Aid - The preferred method of assisting those affected, is by making cash donations, as relief agencies still have the costly logistical issue of collecting and distributing aid. People can make a cash donation by contacting the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 811 700. People still wishing to donate material aid, including clothing, beddings, food etc, should contact their local Salvation Army or St Vincent de Paul Society to determine if they can make use of the goods. The Salvation Army Family Store in Benalla Road, Shepparton can be contacted on (03) 5821 9694 and St Vincent de Paul on (03) 5821 5879.
- Released 9 February