Sandbags, seawalls and supplies: Cash boost to prepare Gippsland for extreme weather

The federal government has tipped more than $8 million into making Gippsland communities more resilient to increasingly frequent, severe and dangerous weather events.

Contributions from the state bring the funding total to about $18.4 million.

What works are being funded?

• Over $5 million for flood mitigation infrastructure (vertical seawalls, dune restoration, etc) on Bullock Island, Fishermans Beach in Mornington, Loch Sport and Silverleaves.

• Over $2 million to upgrade Bogong High Plains Road, which runs from Tawonga South to Glen Valley, with the goal of allowing water to run underneath the road to mitigate against landslides and closures.

• $500,000 to Foodbank Victoria’s community warehouses in Morwell and Ballara, to allow for better disaster preparation.

• $440,000 to help establish community hubs in Traralgon aimed at assisting residents in preparing and responding to flood events. The hubs will provide sandbags, safety information and practical training.

The Monitor has sought comment from Liberal MP for Monash, Mary Aldred, and Nationals MP for Gippsland, Darren Chester.