Many councils across the country are looking to the future and beginning to rebuild their communities following the recent wide spread flooding.
And while political games have divided Federal politicians on whether or not a flood levy should be imposed on higher income earners, or whether it should be an ongoing scheme to cope with future major events, Local Government has acted swiftly with its response.
Not only have affected councils stepped up to the mark, providing key information, essential services and relief, but unaffected councils have not hesitated to lend a helping hand.
In times of disaster, residents look to their councils to lead the immediate response, guide the longer term recovery, and reassure them that life will be normal again.
But with a disaster of this scale, many municipalities have limited resources to sustain the work required to assist their communities.
To this end, it has been great to see councils presenting a united front across the country, assisting their colleagues to get down to business and get the job done.
In the wise words of President of the Local Government Association of South Australia (LGASA), Mayor Felicity-ann Lewis, “It is at times like this that we need to think across State borders and recognise, as has been said, that this is not a Queensland disaster, it is a disaster for the whole of Australia.”
LGASA has offered the help of experienced council staff to assist in the rebuilding of flood ravaged Queensland.
Similarly, many New South Wales councils have been in contact with their counterparts in Queensland and Northern New South Wales to offer support.
Even with 71 Local Government Areas having a natural disaster declared due to flooding in the last three months, New South Wales councils rallied together to help other councils and communities affected by the floods, with offers of financial assistance, staff and equipment.
This sentiment is echoed across the nation, from Western Australia suffering with its own flood and bushfires, to Victoria where 30 municipalities have been, are currently or will be flood affected as the waters slowly make their way to the Murray River and proceed down it.
The City of Greater Bendigo in central Victoria is one of many helping its neighbours in this time of need.
Council sent staff to help at flood relief and recovery centres in an effort to assist affected Shires to cope and provide relief for their staff.
City of Greater Bendigo CEO Craig Niemann said Greater Bendigo suffered damage to a range of local community facilities and roads, but in the grand scheme it was minor compared to what other councils are dealing with.
It is a real case of the inevitable ‘Aussie Spirit’ – a spirit that comes down to the communities Local Governments create. No matter how badly hurt or damaged we are, we always think there is someone worse off, and don’t hesitate to lend a helping hand.
Across the country, many communities used their Australia Day celebrations as a donation drive and to help raise further funds for the flood recovery efforts across the country.
Councils are also organising other events and activities like Mayoral cricket matches and collection points at customer service centres to raise extra funds.
So far the response from communities has been extremely generous and well needed by communities and councils that will bear the brunt of infrastructure repairs to numerous roads, bridges, community centres and so forth.
