More than $36.8 million for flood levees, coastal defences and bushfire preparedness in Victoria
Eleven Victorian projects, including coastal protection at Elwood, will share more than $36.8 million in Round Four of the Disaster Ready Fund.
Eleven projects across Victoria will share more than $36.8 million to help communities prepare for floods, storms, rising seas and bushfires.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain and Victorian Minister for Emergency Services Paul Edbrooke announced the funding on 22 October under Round Four of the federal government's $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund.
The Commonwealth is contributing more than $17.7 million, with a further $19.1 million from the Victorian Government and other project partners.
Elwood among the projects
A $7.2 million Coastal Risk Reduction and Resilience Program will deliver new and upgraded coastal protection at Elwood and Port Franklin. According to the release, it will reduce coastal flooding risks and improve resilience to storms and sea level rise.
Other projects named in the release include:
- $12.3 million for levees along Racecourse Creek in Epsom, reducing flood risk to more than 500 homes and 60 businesses
- $4.4 million for levee works at Castlemaine Caravan Park, Elizabeth Street and Campbells Creek Township
- $3.7 million for a flood protection levee at the Rochester and Elmore District Health Service hospital, which was evacuated in the 2022 flood
- nearly $3.9 million for community resilience and infrastructure projects in Mansfield Shire and Ruffy, to support residents before, during and after emergencies such as bushfires.
Victoria is also leading a $1 million project to share emergency information and deliver joint training between north-east Victoria and southern New South Wales.
The release says communities in Ruffy and Mansfield recently experienced fires, and communities in Bendigo and Rochester recently experienced flooding.
Mr Edbrooke said: "We know how quickly bushfires, floods and storms can turn lives upside down."
The full list of Victorian projects is on the National Emergency Management Agency's Disaster Ready Fund page.
Sources: “Disaster Ready Fund Round Four Supports Victorians To Be Disaster Ready”, Victorian Government media release, 22 October 2026; National Emergency Management Agency: Disaster Ready Fund Adapted from “Disaster Ready Fund Round Four Supports Victorians To Be Disaster Ready”, Victorian Government media release, 22 October 2026. © Copyright State Government of Victoria, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence; this version has been edited and shortened, and party-political content removed. Illustrations: The Dosage.