Maribyrnong Flood Recovery

Guided River Walks and Community BBQ

Guided river walks are taking place followed by a community barbeque during March.

Join our Park Ranger, Martin for a guided walk and discover the flora and fauna along the Maribyrnong River.

Burton Crescent Reserve, Thursday 6 March

Garden repair cafe - 4.30 to 5.30pm

River walk from Burton Crescent Reserve to Pipemakers Park return - 5.30 to 6.30pm 

Community barbeque - 6.30pm onwards 

Coulson Gardens, Thursday 20 March

Garden repair cafe - 4.30 to 5.30pm

River walk from Coulson Gardens to Afton Street Wetlands return - 5.30 to 6.30pm 

Community barbeque - 6.30pm onwards 

Garden repair cafe details

Bring along a flat pack raised garden bed or basic garden tools requiring attention to receive support from our volunteers with the following garden-related activities: 

• Support assembling a flat pack raised garden bed
• Basic garden tool repair

Please bring your own flat packs or tools for repair. Please note some items may not be deemed suitable for the repair program. 

Drop in at any time during the event to join the activities of interest to you.

Autumn gardening get-together and Community BBQ

Connect with your neighbours at a free community event.

The event will feature a range of activities including:

• Optional one-hour cycle trip, departing at 9:00am, free bike hire is available to hire on the day plus a free bike check station
• My Smart Garden tool maintenance workshop commencing at 10:30am
• Repair Cafe - bring along garden tools needing attention or flat packs for assembly
• Children's nature activities
• Free native plants to take home
• Coffee cart and barbeque

Date: Sunday 16 March

Time: Cycle tour 9am to 10am, event takes place from 10am to 1pm 

Location: Burton Crescent Reserve, Burton Crescent, Maribyrnong

Community Gardening: Transforming Nature Strips

This workshop will be taking place during the month of May – more details to come.

Community Gardening: Winter Tree Pruning

This workshop will be taking place during the month of June – more details to come.

Bring along a picnic blanket/camping chair and your family and friends for an afternoon of live music, entertainment and social connection.

A variety of artists will perform at each event taking place at Coulson Gardens on Sunday 2 and 30 March:

Sunday 2 March, 2 to 5pm 

2:00pm - Paul Williamson and friends featuring Jane Clifton

3:30pm - African drumming and dance with master drummers Ray Pereira, Nil Abli and Kofi Nortey

4:15pm - Traditional African dance workshop with Kofi Norey, dance master from Ghana

Sunday 30 March, 2 to 5pm

2:00pm - Ania Reynolds known as Synthotronica

Free ice cream and sausage sizzles will be available at both events.

Location: Coulson Gardens, The Esplanade, Maribyrnong

Children aged 11 and under, impacted by the October 2022 flood are invited to participate in a project to capture stories of young people's resilience. Stories will be developed through a series of interactive workshops and play therapy techniques to build a children's book.

Story building workshop

Date: 23 March

Time: 10am to 1pm

Location: 100 Story Building, 206-208 Nicholson Street, Footscray

Editorial Workshops

Dates:

• Session 1: 14 April (school holidays)
• Session 2: 15 April (school holidays)
• Session 3: 16 April (school holidays)

Time: 10am to 11:30am

Location: Maribyrnong Library, 120 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong (Highpoint)

To register, visit, https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdqMpEiPUIVFVtYAVrXbXQ8mi3E0BC0695cADvf_Ec75qSYCA/viewform

A series of free one-hour Blackbird River Cruises will be taking place in 2025. The river cruises provide an opportunity to connect with neighbours while learning about the history of the area and taking in the sights of the Maribyrnong River.

 Cruises will take place on the following dates:

• January 10, 4pm and 6pm - closed

• January 17, 4pm and 6pm - closed

• February 21, 6pm - closed

• March 21, 6pm - bookings now open

• April 4, 6pm

• April 11, 4pm.

Cruises will depart from Raleigh Road Jetty landing, Burton Crescent, Maribyrnong.

Registrations are required and will open four weeks before the cruise:

 Book now

Guided by its Community Recovery Committee, Council is supporting the development of a program to build and maintain a network of community leaders in flood preparedness.

A training day for network members will be held with the Victorian State Emergency Service (VICSES) and the Australian Red Cross. 

Date: Saturday 3 May

Time: from 10:00am

Location: to be confirmed

Community leaders will receive information, resources, and partake in a network supported by the Council and designed to:

• Help your neighbours understand their flood risk and how to be prepared

• Receive risk information and warnings

• Share information with your street or networks through channels relevant to your neighbourhood’s needs.

A community emergency plan will be developed to capture community-led networks.

There is no requirement to share warnings or door-knock properties during flood warnings – this network will broaden the reach of the current warning system rather than replace it.

To register your interest to join the network:

• Speak with your CRC representative Susan Saunders
• Email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au
• Complete the form below

 Submit an expression of interest online

Community are invited to take part in a community emergency planning workshop to support the Maribyrnong Neighbourhood Flood Network.

The outcome of the planning day will be:

• A community-owned flood document

• A Complimentary Relief and Recovery Plan to guide agencies in the future

Date: Saturday 10 May

Time: from 10am

Location: to be confirmed

A preparedness campaign will be launched in April in partnership with VICSES and the Red Cross. 

For enquiries, email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.

The youth participants (aged 11 – 17) will explore flood impacts and recovery and share their ideas through a co-designed ‘Floods + Me’ public exhibition. Their ideas and research will also contribute to the national Floods + Me project.

Group and individual activities over 4 months will use creative storytelling approaches, to capture and consider their own and others’ flood experiences.

Each participant receives a research pack containing research materials plus some art materials.

A website for participants and parents to access details about the program has been created.

Visit the Floods+Me Maribyrnong website

Activity Schedule

The project is run by Victoria University with support from a national team of researchers and the Maribyrnong Council Flood Recovery Team.

For further information and to get, or return, a consent form contact helenwiddopquinton@vu.edu.au

Additional hard waste collection opportunities are returning for households impacted by the October 2022 flood. Six collections are available for six weeks between 31 March and 5 May 2025.

Collection requirements

• Collections must be scheduled for Mondays only
• Glass must be wrapped
• Green waste must be bundled and tied
• Timber must be under two metres long

Please ensure all hard waste is left on the nature strip no earlier than the Sunday prior to the scheduled collection date. Items must not encroach on road or footpath.

The following items will not be collected. Please ensure these items are not left out on the day of collection: 

• Asbestos
• Paints
• Batteries
• Gas bottles 

How to book your collection

Bookings for additional hard waste collections must be made by phoning Council on 9688 0200, selecting option 1.

Bookings open from 3 March 2025.

To be eligible for the additional collections, residents must advise they are booking a Flood Recovery Collection and nominate the preferred week of collection. 

If you require support making a booking, email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Following a suggestion from the broader community, the Community Recovery Committee (CRC) is establishing a walking group along the Maribyrnong River.

A Facebook group has been created by the CRC to manage the walking group. Frequency, day and time of walks will be determined by members.

This group is open to all community in the flood-impacted area of Maribyrnong.

If you are interested in joining, you can either:

• Join the Facebook group here

• Email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au. 

Floral arrangement workshops are returning as a continuation of the skill building program.

Workshop dates

Easter theme: 3 – 5pm Thursday 10 April

Mother’s Day theme: 3 – 5pm, Thursday 8 May

Spaces are limited and reserved for Maribyrnong residents impacted by the flood event.

Reservations will open 6 weeks prior to each event. For further enquires contact floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Opportunities identified:

• Community storytelling project (public artwork and/or children’s book to tell community stories)

• Communication (channels and frequency)

• Collaboration (with schools, state government, Moonee Valley City Council, other disaster impacted communities)

• Social connection events (music event or festival, events at Anglers Tavern, river cruises, movie screenings)

• Preparedness (preparedness and risk information, annual exercises, checklists, insurance guide/resource) 

• Built environment support (local tradespeople available for quotes, built environment updates in Maribyrnong, more lighting along the Maribyrnong River)

• Equine assisted therapy 

• Advocacy for:

  • Incentivising resilient rebuilds/GST refund on rebuilds

  • Report into economic impacts of the flood

  • Improvement to warning systems

  • Repurposing vacant land on Chifley Drive unsuitable for development for community use (e.g. community garden)

  • Response agencies to understand community needs

Where to from here?

At the November CRC meeting, members ordered the projects identified at the workshop by level of priority. These are detailed in the table below:

Some projects will require involvement from other stakeholders. Stakeholder involvement has not been confirmed yet.

In order to progress these projects, the CRC has established project groups to collect community input in the design of these projects. Three project streams have been established:

• Preparedness, health and safety

• Social recovery and young people

• Financial and built environment recovery

The CRC welcome involvement from the broader Maribyrnong community in these groups to give insight. If you are interested in getting involved in community projects, email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or talk to a member of the Community Recovery Committee.

The Maribyrnong Community Recovery Committee (CRC) was established to enable a community-led approach to recovery, provide advice to Council on recovery issues and help identify community needs.

Membership includes six community representatives, one Councillor representative, two recovery service provider representatives, three Council officers and the Independent Chair. 

Community members are welcome to speak with their CRC representatives to raise questions or ideas relating to recovery. The CRC community representatives are:

• Andrew Monteiro

• Mary Cameron

• Mike Caridi

• Naz Bayrak

• Paul Larsen

• Susan Saunders.

Committee members’ tenure will conclude in June 2025. 

Download the Community Recovery Committee Terms of Reference 2024-2025(PDF, 116KB) 

For more information on the Community Recovery Committee, please email floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au or call Council on 9688 0200 and request to speak with a member of the Flood Recovery team.

CRC meeting minutes

At the November 2024 CRC meeting, members agreed to publish the meeting minutes online moving forward. Minutes can be found below:

• November 2024 CRC Meeting Minutes(PDF, 172KB)

Council is partnering with GenWest and the Community Recovery Committee on the Maribyrnong Insurance Project to make insurance information more accessible to the community.

The following organisations are also supporting the project:

• Cohealth
• Consumer Action Law Centre
• Disaster Legal Help Victoria
• Financial Counselling Victoria
• The Red Cross
• West Justice.

The latest phase of the project included interviews with impacted community as well as a desktop review of existing resources, such as the Inquiry into Insurers' Responses to 2022 Major Flood Claims Report and the transcripts from the public hearings held as part of this inquiry.

The following initiatives have been identified following the needs assessment:

• Development of an accessible and user-friendly insurance resource, developed by experts with a community voice

• Insurance expert panel discussion

• Videos to provide the information in another format for accessibility.

The resource and panel discussion will be held in March 2025. More information will be provided once details are confirmed.

Tai Chi is a great way to relax and improve your overall health and wellbeing. Classes are free, and will be run by experienced instructor Alfred Ng

Drop in to join a class, registrations are not required.

When: 9:30am every Saturday until the end of May 2025. 

Where: Maribyrnong Community Centre, 9 Randall Street, Maribyrnong

Comfortable clothing is recommended. 

Due to its popularity, the free MAC membership program has been extended until June 2025. This program provides free memberships for residents impacted by the October 2022 flood. This was the most frequently requested program at the recent door-knock of flood impacted homes.

Existing memberships under this program will now be extended until June 2025. Registrations will be reopened for those who have not opted into this program.

To apply, please send an email including your name, phone number and address to floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au. A member of the team will be in touch to discuss the registration process.

Please note this program is for people impacted by the 2022 flood event. All free memberships conclude at the end of June 2025.

14 October 2024 marked two years since the devastating Maribyrnong River Flood. The two-year mark serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by many, with community members still displaced, some rebuilding, others yet to begin. Many have made the decision to leave the area permanently.

Community Recovery Committee member, Andrew Monteiro acknowledges the ongoing impact of the flood on the community.

“This flood was devastating and is still impacting many people, however it has also brought out the best in community who came together to support one another. The response from community is worth celebrating.”

Andrew emphasised the importance of a “shared voice in recovery” to enable all of the community to be heard and stand together through the challenges and the wins.

A community event was held on Sunday 13 of October, at Coulson Gardens. The event provided a space for over 150 community members and their families to come together and connect over food and participate in a variety of activities throughout the day, including a Bunurong Cultural History Talk, Blackbird River Cruise trips, art activities, kids’ activities and henna.

Attendees were invited to dedicate a message to someone who supported them during or after the flood by writing a gratitude card at the event. A gratitude card display has been installed at the Maribyrnong Community Centre to showcase the messages dedicated alongside an artwork painted by community on the day. Community is invited to view the artwork and write your own card.

With support from Council, Victoria University and Southern Cross University plan to hold a youth art-based recovery program, Floods and Me.

The program uses art-based methods to capture the stories of young people aged 11 to 17 and will contribute to the development of a framework to consider young people in emergency recovery. It is based off the Floods and Me program that took place in Lismore following the February 2022 floods: Current research projects - Faculty of Education - SCU - Southern Cross University. 

Youth involved in the program will also have the chance to exhibit their artwork at the conclusion of the program. 

Register here

Around the World to Maribyrnong

We are inviting expressions of interest from community members interested in hosting a cooking class.

Should cooking classes proceed, dependent on the level of interest expressed, recipes will be collated, and a cookbook will be developed.

All cuisines are welcome, and no formal experience is required – we are simply looking for people with a passion for food and a willingness to share that passion with their community.

If you are interested in facilitating a cooking class, please let us know by submitting an expression of interest online below.

Submit an expression of interest online

Planning and Building Assistance Rebate Scheme

The Department of Transport and Planning has announced a Planning and Building Assistance Rebate Scheme (PBARS). The scheme can assist with expenses for professional services, property-based assessments, and advice necessary for planning and building permit applications.  

Eligible homeowners may qualify to receive a rebate up to $3000 for costs associated with planning and/or building permit applications needed to repair or rebuild their homes destroyed or damaged by the flood. 

The scheme will be administered by Windermere Child and Family Services.

To apply or find out more:

• visit https://www.windermere.org.au/services/financial-assistance-to-repair-and-rebuild-victorian-homes-impacted-by-the-october-2022-floods/, or
• view the fact sheet here: Planning and Building Assistance Rebate Scheme Fact Sheet(PDF, 176KB).

Connecting Community to Builders program

The Connecting Community to Builders program is here to help you get back on your feet after the October 2022 floods by connecting you with registered and available tradespeople who can assist in repairing or rebuilding your home.

Once you have registered, you will be sent a list of approved builders and tradespeople ready to work on your project. You can then directly communicate with your selected professional to coordinate the services that align with your needs.

To find out more or register, visit: 

• Connecting Community to Builders program (planning.vic.gov.au), or
• refer to the fact sheet here: Connecting Community to Builders Program Fact Sheet(PDF, 180KB).

Council building and planning advice

Community are welcome to book individual appointments for specific advice on flood-related building or property development issues. Council’s building and planning officers are happy to meet with residents on-site by request. This is the best way to receive practical advice, whilst viewing a property together.

If you prefer to discuss your plans elsewhere, please request a time to meet our building and planning officers at the Maribyrnong Community Centre, or suggest a location that suits you. Normal fees which apply to this type of advice have been waived as part of Council’s Flood Recovery Program.

Our officers are committed to walking you through Council’s application processes and policies, as well as identifying if you may need to engage an independent building surveyor or planning firm.

Our teams are always available via our Customer Service number (03) 9688 0200. Choose the option to the Building and Planning department for a direct transfer. Should you need a translator to assist during these discussions, please let us know. If you prefer email, you can seek support via floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.

Flood Recovery Hotline

Emergency Recovery Victoria is still offering help to flood impacted communities across Victoria

Call 1800 560 760 for support with

• repairs
• accommodation
• financial support
• mental health support

The hotline is answered between 8:30am and 5:00pm, Monday to Friday

For further information visit the Emergency Recovery Victoria webpage. 

My Mental Health - services, directory and online support

Help and support is available to maintain mental health and wellbeing and includes local services and resources in a number of languages visit:  My Mental Health

Head to Health

Access free mental health resources and services at Head to Health or to speak to a trained mental health professional contact 1800 595 212

Cohealth Recovery Support Program

The program offers screening and assessments to determine immediate and long term needs for people affected by emergencies. For more information contact: flood.relief@cohealth.org.au

Services supporting the community:

• Lifeline: call 13 11 14, 24 hours, seven days a week or visit lifeline.org.au
• 1800 RESPECT: call 1800 737 732, 24 hours seven days a week or visit 1800respect.org.au
• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: call 1800 015 188, 24 hours, seven days a week, or visit safesteps.org.au
• GenWest: call 1800 436 937, email info@genwest.org.au or visit genwest.org.au
• InTouch Multicultural Centre against Family Violence: call 1800 755 988, or visit intouch.org.au
• Djirra, support for Aboriginal people, call 1800 105 303, or visit djirra.org.au
• MensLine Australia: call 1300 789 978 or visit mensline.org.au
• Seniors Rights Victoria: call 1300 368 821, or visit seniorsrights.org.au
• Kids helpline (services for young people aged 5 to 25): call 1800 551 800, 24 hours seven days a week or visit kidshelpline.com.au

Resources for young people

• headspace 
• Red Cross 
• Salvation Army 
• Youth Disaster Recovery

Business Support

Mentors are available to guide Business owners through other support available and help manage insurance and landlord issues, assess impacts and form strategies for recovery.

For more information visit the Business Victoria website.

Free, confidential, mental health and wellbeing support is also available.  For more information visit the Partners in Wellbeing website or phone 1300 375 330.

Insurance support 

For information on insurance recovery and claims process visit https://insurancecouncil.com.au/resource/insurance-recovery-process/

Community Recovery Services Guide

For more information on recovery support available, visit the Community Recovery Services Guide(PDF, 468KB).

Council resolved on 18 June 2024 to continue rate support for eligible residents. Those with a dwelling that is still impacted by the flood can apply for 50% rebate off the Rates and Municipal Charge for the first, second, third and fourth rate instalments for the 2024/25 period.

Your application must include evidence of a dwelling on the property, along with evidence of the flood damage to the dwelling and that work is still required to repair that damage.

Property owners who were eligible for the above rebate but were required to demolish their dwelling, will be granted a rebate of 50% on the vacant residential land rates upon application, provided a Certificate of Occupancy is obtained within 24 months of the completed building demolition.

Please note the rebate does not apply for State Government Fire Service Levy.

To apply:

Complete the form below. There is an option to select all quarters on the form, and your application will be reassessed after each installment for eligibility. A 50% discount will be applied to each instalment if the dwelling is still impacted. We’ll communicate this via email. 

 If a resident opts to pay in full, the rebate will be applied for the entire year. We will contact them after the first instalment to request evidence, which will be the same for quarterly instalments.

We have removed the deferment option to prevent additional financial distress. Instead, we will offer assistance through the financial hardship option.

Once we have received your application, a member of our team will contact you to discuss your situation.

To complete the application, you will need your rates assessment number which can be found on your rates assessment notice.

Submit an application online 

Council undertook a door-knock of properties impacted by the floods to identify ongoing recovery needs, opportunities to provide support, and share information about recovery programs and initiatives. This took place between 28 August and 4 September.

Where possible, an information pack was left with information about recovery programs, support opportunities and more.

If you weren’t home or have not returned to your property, arrange an appointment with one of the team by email at floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au.

Alternatively, you can complete the post card in your information pack to request an appointment.

The Understanding our Community Post-Flood survey was designed to help us better understand the experiences and needs of members of our community impacted by the Maribyrnong River Flood in October 2022.

This feedback will inform ways to tailor our recovery program and assist Council to advocate to meet our community needs.

Thank you to everyone who provided comments; there were 65 responses in total.

The survey data highlighted there are still people unaware of the recovery support services available, and the need for Council to continue its advocacy efforts with external parties.

Key themes from respondents were mitigation/prevention, wellbeing, insurance challenges, communication, financial impact and warning systems/preparedness.

In terms of next steps, Council will:

• Develop an advocacy plan
• Host a community workshop for our community to continue to be heard as part of our recovery planning
• Door-knock flood impacted properties to assess recovery needs and provide information
• Extend the Tai Chi program until the end of 2024
• Create a recovery program card to collect feedback on recovery needs and how to meet them through the program.

To view the key findings of the survey download the Survey Summary(PDF, 104KB).

Community Recovery Committee Review

The Community Recovery Committee was initiated to enable Council to receive advice and support from community on recovery issues, barriers and needs after the Maribyrnong River Flood in October 2022. The committee was also established to advise on the development and implementation of recovery and resilience programs and strategies.

The formation of the Community Recovery Committee was endorsed at the Council Meeting on 7 February 2023 and the first meeting was held in April 2023.

An independent review of the committee was conducted after eight months of operation to ensure it was functioning as planned.

A report was produced as part of the review. The report and the amended Community Recovery Committee Terms of Reference were received by Council on 19 March 2024.

As a result of the review findings, Council is making a number of changes to the committee including appointing an independent Chair, reopening expressions of interest for new members, and inviting agency representatives from GenWest and cohealth to join the committee.

Please see key documents below: 

• Report: Community Recovery Committee Review(PDF, 1MB)
• Community Recovery Committee Review Frequency Asked Questions(PDF, 316KB)
• Agenda and Minutes - Council meeting 19 March 2024 

Donations via GIVIT

GIVIT continue to assist impacted communities with items and gift vouchers. If you require support, please reach out to us via: floodrecovery@maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

Anyone with goods they are wanting to donate to help flood affected families should visit the GIVIT website where offers can be lodged.

On 26 April 2023, Council unanimously endorsed a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into the 2022 Victorian Floods. The submission provides suggestions on key actions to be undertaken to minimise the impacts of future events:

• A review of warning systems to ensure it is accessible to all in the community and information is provided in a consistent way.
• Improved coordination between different government agencies to ensure that roles are defined.
• A clear framework and agreements between relevant organisations and agencies in respect of clean-up activities, management of volunteers and the roll out of funding support.
• An assessment of current flood management and land use planning framework to ensure they are fit for purpose and mitigate the risks and impacts of future flood events.
• A mitigation plan, including funding, must be developed for Maribyrnong to minimise the impact of future flood events.

Visit the Agenda and Minutes page to read the submission in full in the agenda for the City Development Delegated Committee meeting held on 26 April 2023 (page 155).

Maribyrnong City Council's submission to Melbourne Water's Maribyrnong River Flood Review

Council has lodged a formal submission to Melbourne Water’s Maribyrnong River Flood Review.

525 properties in the township were impacted during the October flood event with ongoing health, social and economic impacts still being felt.

In its submission Council seeks to challenge the narrow scope of the review, and in particular the specific exclusion of policy responses and mitigation measures.

It also addresses the impact of the event, noting rebuild and recovery processes are still underway, Flood Modelling and Warnings, the Flemington Racecourse Wall, Flooding and Land Use Planning, and Melbourne Water’s role in Emergency Management.

Council’s submission notes a number of areas where it believes the review needs to provide clear recommendations to ensure flood hazards and the impacts of future floods can be minimised.

Click here to read the submission in full in the agenda for the City Development Delegated Committee meeting held on 28 March 2023 (page 73).

Melbourne Water Maribyrnong River Flood Review 

For more information regarding the review visit Melbourne Water’s Maribyrnong River Flood Review webpage.

On Tuesday 25 October, Council held a community meeting where representatives from Council, EPA, Disaster Recovery Australia, Emergency Recovery Victoria and cohealth were in attendance to share information with the community and answer questions. 

The meeting was livestreamed, and a recording can be viewed below. 

On Thursday 15 December, we held a community meeting at Maribyrnong Community Centre with presentations given by Council, VicSES and Melbourne Water, facilitated by Victoria Police. 

View the recording of the presentations below.