Storm supports following power outages

Published on 15 February 2024

See below information regarding ongoing support residents can access following the recent storm event

Waste services

Residents impacted by the power outage are able to take any storm-related waste including food free of charge until 30 April to the following waste transfer stations, please be mindful of the opening dates and times:

  • Coldstream Transfer Station, Ingram Rd &, Leonard Rd, Coldstream. Open 7 days a week.
  • Wesburn Transfer Station, 689 Old Warburton Rd, Wesburn. Open Friday-Monday.
  • Lysterfield Transfer Station, 840 Wellington Rd, Lysterfield. Accepting storm waste 8am-3.30pm Mon-Fri, 8am-11.30am Sat-Sun.

Please ensure you take photo identification with a Yarra Ranges address on it.

Please note that these transfer stations are currently experiencing high volumes of visitation, so please attempt to visit at off-peak times where possible.

Please ensure that your green material and branches are no more than 1m long each and no thicker than a dinner plate.

Roadside Storm Debris cleanup

Council’s contractors have begun the cleanup of storm debris from roadsides.

The contractors will systematically work their way through the below areas (see map) over the coming days to clean roadsides of fallen tree debris while also checking the status of standing trees that may have hangers or broken branches.

The contractors will report back to our arborists on any high-risk trees that they come across during their work.

Yarra Ranges Council will not be clearing up private properties. For residents wishing to clean up their own properties, they can make use of the Lysterfield, Wesburn and Coldstream Transfer Stations who are taking on any storm waste (branches, food, broken fences), free of charge. We ask that you please bring a valid photo ID with a Yarra Ranges address on it when dropping off your waste. 

Map of storm debris cleanup.PNG

State Government clean-up support for storm damaged homes

Yarra Ranges residents impacted by the recent storms can register to have hazardous trees removed from their properties through the State Government.

Residents who live or rent out a property in Yarra Ranges can register for hazardous tree removal if:

  • They are uninsured or underinsured for damage caused by the February 2024 storms
  • The hazardous trees on the property are a direct result of the February 2024 storms, and
  • The trees could fall, or have a branch fall, within 30 meters of your home or the main access to your home.

Residents can fill out the online form at https://www.vic.gov.au/clean-support-storm-damaged-homes or alternatively call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 to register.

Following registration, you will receive a call from the State Government to complete your registration and organise a site inspection of your property.

A qualified contractor will then visit your property to assess the site and then make a plan to undertake the work, which may include being given access to the site if needed, or removing things like damaged trees that could make it unsafe for the contractor.

For more information on this program please visit https://www.vic.gov.au/clean-support-storm-damaged-homes.

 

Demolition of storm-damaged homes

For any home that has been damaged beyond repair by the February 2024 storms and is not covered by insurance, the State Government are offering to demolish it for free.

This will allow residents to focus their efforts and resources on rebuilding.

Yarra Ranges residents can register for demolition if:

  • their home or rental property was affected by the February 2024 Victorian storms
  • their home is uninsured or underinsured for damage caused by the February 2024 Victorian storms, and
  • they live in the home, or had a tenant living there with a formal a rental agreement in place

Following registration, you will receive a call from the State Government to complete your registration and organise a site inspection of your property.

A qualified contractor will then visit your property to assess the site and then make a plan to undertake the work, which may include being given access to the site if needed, or removing things like damaged trees that could make it unsafe for the contractor.

Please note that this program does not include partial demolition, or any rebuild or repair work.

The contractor will submit then submit their plan to the State Government.

They will then meet the resident on site again to agree to the scope of works.

If you want to go ahead, residents will need to agree to the scope of work in a timely manner, including making time to meet the contractor on site.

For more information on this program please visit https://www.vic.gov.au/clean-support-storm-damaged-homes.

 

Other agencies information

Please follow the AusNet Facebook page for the latest updates regarding current outages or track power and network outages through Ausnet outage tracker.

Please view the Compensation and service standards (ausnetservices.com.au) for information on payments related to electricity outages.

Many areas are also experiencing issues connecting to their mobile phone/internet network.

 

State and Federal Government Relief Payment

The State and Federal governments offer relief payments if:

  • your principal place of residence is in an evacuation warning area, or the fires or storms have damaged your home, and
  • you have unmet immediate relief needs.

 

How to Apply

If you think you may be eligible for a relief payment, please call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.

View the Emergency Management Victoria or the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) websites for further information.

The State Government has also issued media releases on their latest information.

 

Prolonged Power Outage Payments

The Federal and State Governments have announced that they will provide prolonged power outage payments for households and businesses that have been without power for seven days following the extreme weather event on Tuesday 13 February 2024.

AusNet is supporting the delivery of this relief payment to Yarra Ranges customers. They will contact all customers after Thursday 22 February 2024 who may be eligible for this relief payment.

Subject to the below eligibility criteria, the Prolonged Power Outage Payment will give:

  • $1,920 per week for households for up to three weeks depending on the length of time the household is without power
  • $2,927 per week for small businesses for up to three weeks depending on the length of time the business is without power.

Eligibility

Residential Customers

To be eligible for the Prolonged Power Outage Payment, residential customers must:

  • Have a residential electricity account with AusNet

  • Be an electricity account holder at a property that was without power for 7 days due to the 13 February severe weather event in Victoria

  • Have not applied for and received a Prolonged Power Outage Payment for the same electricity account (NMI) in relation to the 13 February severe weather event.

For Business

To be eligible for a Prolonged Power Outage Payment, a business must:

  • Be operating from a location that remained without power as for 7 days due to the 13 February severe weather event in Victoria

  • Have an annual Victorian payroll of $10 million or less in 2022/2023 on an ungrouped basis

  • Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at 12.01am Tuesday 13 February 2024

  • Be registered with the responsible Federal or State regulator

  • Not applied for and received a Prolonged Power Outage Payment for the same electricity account (NMI) in relation to the 13 February severe weather event.

 

 

To apply for the payment, please complete the online form on the AusNet website.

The Prolonged Power Outage Payment application will be open until midnight on Sunday 31 March 2024. 

You can also call AusNet's dedicated Storm Relief Hotline on 1300 561 171, Monday-Friday 8am-5pm.

 

Water and septic tanks

If you are experiencing issues with water or sewerage, please contact South East Water on 13 28 12 or Yarra Valley Water

This includes things like slow drainage, gurgling or unusual noises from your pressure sewer or sewer overflow.

If your pressure sewer system isn’t working properly, South East Water recommends reducing your water usage where the wastewater needs to go down the drain afterwards. This means, where possible, minimising activities such as taking a shower or bath, flushing the toilet or doing the dishes. The less wastewater you produce reduces the chances of your pressure sewer tank overflowing.

The recent storms may have had a significant impact on septic tank systems around the Yarra Ranges. If you own a septic tank system, please undertake the following checks to work out if your system is operating correctly:

  • Check for odours around the system 
  • Check the system for signs of damage 
  • Monitor whether the wastewater flows well through water fixtures and fittings 
  • Check the system for blockages (if safe to do so)

If you identify any problems through the above checks, please reach out to a suitably qualified and experienced plumber to check your system.

 

Report an issue

If you have experienced damage at your home or business, call the Victoria State Emergency Service on 132 500. Please note that the SES is experiencing a high volume of calls.

To report a road, tree, or drainage issue on Council-managed land that could pose an immediate risk to public safety please call us on 1300 368 333 or report an issue online:

Please note: our teams are experiencing a high volume of calls for these issues. We are currently prioritising our tree clean up by risk. We are not allowed to clean up areas where electric lines have been damaged until the Ausnet Services gives us the all-clear. 

Rates payment extension

Due to the power outage affecting many areas, the decision has been made to extend the in-full payment due date to Thursday 29 February 2024.

Having trouble paying? Please visit www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/ratesrelief.

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