RecoveryNewsEdition 2: October 2018

Welcome to Recovery News. This newsletter will provide practical information and advice to those affected by the extreme weather event in southern Tasmania on 10 and 11 May 2018. There will be future editions providing updates as required.

COMMUNITY RECOVERY FUND ANNOUNCEDFurther assistance in the form of a $9.67 million Community Recovery Fund will support the long-term recovery and build future resilience of communities severely affected by the extreme weather event.

The Community Recovery Fund will mainly assist with the restoration of local and State Government owned recreational infrastructure and community facilities, such as parks, playgrounds, sporting facilities, fire trails, walking tracks and mountain bike trails. These assets are crucial to the health and wellbeing of Tasmanians and play an important role in social recovery from natural disasters. In this edition, you can see examples of how the Community Recovery Fund is assisting councils by reimbursing up to 75% of costs associated with restoration projects, including the popular John Turnbull Dog Park in Lenah Valley (page 4) and the iconic North-South Track on kunanyi / Mount Wellington (page 5), which were both damaged in the extreme weather event.

There is funding to support community awareness, recovery and resilience building activities, including the establishment of a $500,000 community grants program, which will allow eligible organisations to apply for funding to deliver locally driven projects. See page 2 for information about the grants.

The Tasmanian Government has also received funding to deliver several initiatives aimed at building community resilience and improving preparedness for future emergencies. These initiatives include:

• a public awareness and education project that will help

people to understand risks to their property from natural disasters and the importance of appropriate insurance; and

• an awareness campaign to educate the public on the role of the SES and the purpose of its 132 500 emergency number.

The Community Recovery Fund is provided through the joint Commonwealth-State funded National Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

More information is available on the TasALERT website at www.tasalert.com/recovery.

IN THIS EDITION:

Community Recovery Fund announced 1Community Recovery and Resilience Grants 2

Who can apply? 2What can be funded? 2How to apply? 2

Financial assistance statistics 3Recovery and Restoration Grants 3Small Business Recovery Grants 3RACT Emergency Storm Fund (still available) 3

Mould growth after a flood 3Works continue on Molesworth Road 4John Turnbull Dog Park reopens to the public 4North-South mountain bike track bounces back 5Contact the Recovery Unit 5Do you have feedback for us? 5

Southern Tasmania Extreme Weather Event – May 2018

Community Recovery and Resilience Grants now open

See page 2 for information

2 RecoveryNews October 2018

COMMUNITY RECOVERY AND RESILIENCE GRANTS

Grants are being offered to eligible organisations to deliver recovery and resilience building projects and initiatives that will assist communities severely affected by the extreme weather event.

The Community Recovery and Resilience Grants are part of the recently established Community Recovery Fund.

WHO CAN APPLY?The following groups are eligible to apply:

• local government agencies and bodies;

• incorporated, non-profit organisations; and

• businesses with an Australian Business Number.

Eligible organisations may apply for funding individually or on behalf of non-incorporated community groups.

Applicants who have received other forms of Government assistance to recover from the extreme weather event are eligible to apply.

Eligible organisations do not need to have been affected by the extreme weather event in order to apply.

WHAT CAN BE FUNDED?Projects and initiatives must:

• relate to the declared natural disaster – the Southern Tasmania Extreme Weather Event: 10 to 11 May 2018;

• benefit communities in one or more of the following local government areas: Hobart City, Glenorchy City, Kingborough and/or Derwent Valley; and

• meet the assessment criteria defined in the Guidelines for Community Recovery and Resilience Grants.

Projects and initiatives may include (but are not limited to):

• community events to recognise recovery and clean-up efforts;

• activities to support social recovery and restore community wellbeing and networks;

• community awareness and education programs;

• community flood preparedness and emergency planning projects;

• community resilience-building projects;

• projects to reduce future flood risks; and

• evaluations of local response and recovery activities with a focus on building future capacity and resilience.

HOW TO APPLY?Guidelines and application forms are available at www.tasalert.com/recovery.

Applicants should read the Guidelines for Community Recovery and Resilience Grants before applying, which include the full eligibility and assessment criteria.

Applications must be submitted by close of business on 9 November 2018.

For any questions about the grants process, eligibility, or for assistance with completing an application form, please contact the Recovery Unit, Department of Premier and Cabinet by phoning (03) 6232 7189 or emailing recovery@dpac.tas.gov.au.

October 2018 RecoveryNews 3

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE STATISTICSAs at 28 September

Immediately after the extreme weather event, the Australian and Tasmanian Governments made a range of assistance measures available to support individuals, families and small businesses in their recovery. The financial assistance was provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. Grants are now closed (except for the RACT Emergency Storm Fund for non-profit organisations – see below).

RECOVERY AND RESTORATION GRANTSThese grants were intended to help individuals and households with the costs associated with temporary living arrangements, replacement of household items, and household clean-up, repairs and restoration.

• 402 applications were received from 330 unique applicants

• 187 grants have been paid out, totalling $629,916

• 103 grants are still being assessed

• The remainder were either ineligible or withdrew their applications.

If you have applied for a Recovery and Restoration Grant and need assistance to complete your application, please contact Housing Tasmania on 1300 665 663. Applications for Recovery and Restoration Grants are now closed, but anyone who is still in need of assistance is encouraged to contact the Recovery Unit on (03) 6232 7189 or recovery@dpac.tas.gov.au.

SMALL BUSINESS RECOVERY GRANTSThis grant helped small businesses to re-establish operations and to continue or recommence trading as soon as possible.

• 25 applications were received and one was withdrawn

• 24 grants have been approved, totalling $178,669

• 14 applications were received from the Kingborough/Huon Valley municipalities, six from Hobart, three from Derwent Valley and one from Glenorchy.

RACT EMERGENCY STORM FUND (STILL AVAILABLE)RACT and the Tasmanian Government are providing an emergency round of the RACT Community Fund to assist community groups and associations with recovery and preparedness projects.

To date, 11 organisations have received grants, totalling $19,900.

There is currently no closing date for this grant. Visit www.ract.com.au/community-funding for more information and to apply.

MOULD GROWTH AFTER A FLOODIf a building has been flooded for more than two days or there is visible water damage or musty odours following a flood, then you can assume that the building’s interior is contaminated with mould. To prevent the mould from spreading it is important to clean up and dry out the house as quickly as possible, including opening doors and windows to air out the house.

Mould is a type of fungi. There are many different types of mould and some have the potential to cause health problems in people who are sensitive or allergic to them. Typical health effects include coughs, runny or blocked nose, sneezing, skin and eye irritation, and wheezing. For people with allergies such as hay-fever and asthma, inhaling mould spores may trigger allergic reactions. You should seek medical advice if you are concerned about the effects of mould.

There is no need to test for mould in your home. If you can see or smell mould, you need to clean it up to prevent it from spreading and to prevent it from damaging the surfaces it grows on.

Remember, mould can only grow where there is moisture, so the key to preventing mould is to reduce dampness in your home.

Further information, including tips to prevent and remove mould, is available in Population Health Services’ mould fact sheet, or you can contact your local council’s Environmental Health Officer for further assistance.

4 RecoveryNews October 2018

WORKS CONTINUE ON MOLESWORTH ROADAfter the extreme weather event, a section about six metres wide of Molesworth Road between Glenlusk and Molesworth was partially undermined by a landslip on the downhill side of the road, along with cracking to one or both sides of the road.

Glenorchy City Council (GCC) understands the importance of the road to those who travel to and from the area. After carefully assessing the width of the road and its traffic condition, a partial lane closure was implemented, with a pair of automated traffic lights and road barriers put in place, to ensure the safety of the road users while keeping the road open.

GCC has engaged an engineering consultant specialising in geotechnical engineering to determine the likely causes of the instability in the investigation area and to provide advice on road embankment reinstatement options and feasibility.

The geotechnical investigation found that about 120m of the road, including where the landslip occurred, has gradually

moved downhill in the last few decades, and to the point where two-way traffic cannot be safely maintained without major reconstruction works. To achieve the long-term stability of the road and to minimise future maintenance, Council has decided to realign this section of the work. The engineering design of the project has been undertaken, and the construction work is expected to start after January 2019.

It is worth noting that sufficient funds have been allocated by Council within its 2018-19 financial year road capital works program. Given the amount of works involved in detailing and implementing any of these long-term remediation options, it is still premature to outline the timeframe for the completion of the remediation works. However, Council will endeavour to minimise inconvenience to the community and will provide updates regarding the project.

If you have any enquiries, please contact Council’s Customer Service on (03) 6216 6800 or via gccmail@gcc.tas.gov.au.

JOHN TURNBULL DOG PARK REOPENS TO THE PUBLICJohn Turnbull Dog Park in Lenah Valley is once again open for people to enjoy with their furry companions, after it was destroyed in the extreme weather event just weeks after it first opened. The restoration will be jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State NDRRA.

The park, located at the corner of Creek and Lenah Valley Roads, was redesigned earlier this year to provide a more enjoyable experience for dogs and dog owners. The design was finalised after an intense, half-year consultation period with over 15 dog and community groups.

The 15,000 square meters of the park has been split into two securely fenced areas with a larger part allocated for general use and a smaller area for puppies, small dogs and dogs that are just starting to socialise. The small park is for dogs to have some off lead exercise while learning important social interaction skills without being intimidated by larger dogs.

The dog park has four main social areas including a mulched agility area, a sandpit, a gravelled area with logs and rocks to

jump over and a shaded mulched area for hot summer days. Watering stations for dogs and drinking fountains for humans have also been installed.

All entrances have double airlock gates with enclosures where a dog can be unleashed before entering the park and placed back on the lead when exiting.

Three entrances have solar powered lights installed as a test, and if successful may be used to light the walking track for walkers over the winter months.

Improvements won’t stop here – more seating, a water play zone for dogs, lighting for the walking path and an irrigation system for the grassed area are to come when Council funding becomes available.

Please note: for the City of Hobart’s park crews to be able to do maintenance works and to make sure there isn’t machinery in operation while dogs are running around, the park will be closed each Wednesday from 9.30 am till 12.30 pm.

John Turnbull Dog Park is offering new facilities for dogs PHO

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The North-South Track is expected to be back in action for summer PHO

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NORTH-SOUTH MOUNTAIN BIKE TRACK BOUNCES BACKMay’s devastating extreme weather event cut the iconic North-South mountain bike track on kunanyi / Mount Wellington in half, with flood waters carving out a four-metre deep crater around the Clapper Bridge crossing at New Town Rivulet.

But with a new replacement crossing underway just 10 metres upstream, the City of Hobart’s track building team should have the North-South Track back in action in time for summer, enabling riding from The Springs all the way to Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park.

While much of the original Clapper Bridge withstood the impact of the water, the banks were washed away and for safety reasons the crossing has remained off-limits. The rest of the North-South Track between The Springs and Clapper Bridge withstood the storm.

Originally built as part of the North-South Track, the Clapper Bridge was based on a method dating back to medieval England where large slabs of flat stone were placed across rivers.

The Clapper Bridge quickly became a signature feature of the award-winning North-South Track, with its design reflecting the surrounding natural environment.

You can keep up-to-date with clean-up progress and track re-openings in Wellington Park by visiting www.wellingtonpark.org.au

The restoration will be jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State NDRRA.

CONTACT THE RECOVERY UNITThe Tasmanian Government Recovery Unit coordinates recovery activities across Tasmanian Government agencies and provides a single point of contact within the Tasmanian Government to help direct members of the community to relevant information, support and financial assistance measures.

You can contact us or find more information at:

Phone: (03) 6232 7189

Email: recovery@dpac.tas.gov.au

Online: www.tasalert.com/recovery

DO YOU HAVE FEEDBACK FOR US?This newsletter aims to provide advice that is relevant and useful to you. We welcome your input on the information you would like included in future editions. If you have any suggestions please contact recovery@dpac.tas.gov.au or call the Recovery Unit on (03) 6232 7189.