Greater Shepparton Council gives flood recovery information for the community. Topics covered are: How to dispose of flood-damaged items, Returning home after the floods, What do I do with my sandbags?, Mental Health and Wellbeing Support.
1. How can we dispose of our flood damaged items?
If you are able to get to a Resource Recovery Centre to dispose of flood waste, all fees are waived. If you have a truck/ute/trailer and can assist friends and neighbours to take waste to a Resource Recovery Centre, please do so.
Council has supplied skip bins in public spaces for flood waste. A map of these locations is on our website, and will be updated as more locations become available.
Council is providing a limited kerbside household flood waste collection from nature strips for those who are unable to dispose of flood damaged materials. This is a limited service, so please only place items on nature strips if you can’t take the rubbish to your nearest Resource Recovery Centre.
For rural properties, a separate collection schedule is being planned and will be shared when ready. In the meantime, please do not place your flood-damaged materials on the roadside as this can cause risk to traffic.
2. What about kerbside waste collection?
Collection of your household kerbside bins have recommenced for areas that are safe for drivers to access. Your regular collection day will remain the same. If you have household flood waste on your nature strip, please ensure you maintain a 1 metre clearance around your kerbside bins so they can be collected. Please do not put sandbags in your kerbside collection bins – they will make the bins too heavy to lift.
3. How and where do I dispose of sandbags?
Please hold onto sandbags on your property for the time being while Council puts a plan in place for collection or disposal. Please don’t put sandbags
in the skip bins or kerbside bins as they will be too heavy for collection.
4. How do I remove and dispose of flood damaged asbestos items?
Please refer to the flyer we have here for this information or visit our website
5. Where can I get assistance if I have a flood question?
Ring the Flood Recovery Hotline 1800 560 760 which can assist with:
⟴ Navigating available support
⟴ Clean-up
⟴ Temporary accommodation
⟴ Mental health and wellbeing support
Returning home after the flood
Health Information
The Victorian Government has a number of health information guides and resources for returning home. Please see shepp.city/returning-home-safely for further information on animal and insect related hazards and mould removal.
Health and safety during clean-up
When cleaning up after a flood, wear protective clothing, such as sturdy footwear, loose long-sleeved shirts and trousers and heavy-duty work gloves.
Before returning to your property
Flooding can cause sewage to overflow inside your home, or gas or electricity supplies may be damaged. The structural integrity may also be affected. Flooding can cause hazardous mould growth which must be cleaned up before moving back into your home.
Protect yourself from mosquitoes
Spring flooding can mean more mosquitos biting and breeding, including ones that can carry diseases that make you sick. We expect an increase in numbers from about two weeks after flooding. Avoid mosquito bites. Cover up by wearing long, loose-fitting clothing and use mosquito repellents containing picardin or DEET on all exposed skin. Empty stagnant water around your property as soon as you can.
Mental Health & Wellbeing Support
It’s normal to experience a range of emotions following emergencies like the recent flooding happening throughout Victoria. Look after yourself and reach out to your loved ones and neighbours.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or concerned about your wellbeing, you can call Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs for free support on 1300 375 330.
The Australian Red Cross has a list of resources covering topics such as how to look after yourself during and after disasters, how to cope with a major personal crisis, and how to talk to your children about the situation. Some guides are also available in audio and Easy English formats. shepp.city/returning-home-safely or phone 1800 733 276. They also have a range of practical tips to help you mentally ready yourself to return home and clean up following a flood or other disaster.
Emerging Minds have developed a resource to help families support children through these experiences. It covers conversations to have with children about a flood event and important ways to involve and support children before, during and after a flood.
⟴ Lifeline – Phone 13 11 14
⟴ Beyond Blue – Phone 1300 224 636
⟴ Kids Helpline – Phone 1800 551 800
⟴ SANE Australia – Phone 1800 187 263
Download this information leaflet
