Campaspe Shire Council, Media Release, 20 January 2023
The state government’s program for the collection of sandbags from properties in Echuca and Echuca Village has resumed.
Campaspe Mayor Cr Rob Amos is encouraging Echuca residents and businesses with sandbags on their properties to take advantage of the free service, which is provided through Emergency Recovery Victoria’s (ERV) Flood Recovery Clean-up Program.
“With the busy lead up to Christmas, some people may not have had time to arrange for sandbags to be removed from their property.
“So, we’re encouraging those households and commercial premises with sandbags to take advantage of the free service while it is still being offered,” Cr Amos said.
Householders and business owners are asked to place sandbags on their nature strip or kerbside away from any fixed assets, such as power poles, to ensure the safe and smooth collection of the sandbags.
People moving sandbags should always wear gloves when handling used sandbags.
ERV and their contractor John Lyons Group do not enter properties to remove sandbags.
Residents who are unable to move their sandbags from their property to their nature strip can call the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
ERV provides these requests to Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organisation.
A response to requests may take some time and are based on community need.
Once sandbags are on the nature strip, residents are asked to register for removal of the sandbags as soon as possible via Council’s website: https://www.campaspe.vic.gov.au/Our-services/Emergency- management/Flood-event-2022/Sandbag-collections.
Please note that people need to register for removal via Council’s website or sandbags will not be removed.
Call for volunteers
Council is calling on community volunteers to register with Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) to aid members of the community who have been impacted by the flood, including moving sandbags in Echuca to a location from where they can be collected.
DRA is managing the community volunteer effort as part of the Victorian Government’s flood recovery.
“The community did a fantastic job of filling and placing sandbags to protect Echuca during the height of the emergency,” Cr Amos said.
“Now we’re hoping to rekindle that community spirit by asking willing-and-able volunteers to help us close the loop on the sandbag program by helping to collect them,” Cr Amos said.
“Volunteering is a wonderful way to support your community and improve your fitness at the same time. It’s a great opportunity for sporting clubs in particular, who can use the experience as part of their fitness training.”
If you’re able to help with volunteer sandbag removal and/or other flood support activities conducted by DRA, please register with Disaster Relief Australia at https://disasterreliefaus.org/field-ops/operation-mactier/.
