Key Contacts and Telephone Numbers

Bass Coast Shire
1300 226 278

Baw Baw Shire
1300 859 446

East Gippsland Shire
(03) 5153 9500

Latrobe City Council
1800 017 777

South Gippsland Shire
(03) 5662 9200

Wellington Shire
1300 366 244

Department of Human Services Emergency Management

The Department of Human Services (DHS) coordinates recovery activities at state and regional level across four areas of impact (environments) with commonwealth and state departments, municipalities and non-government agencies. The DHS Regional Director is the Regional Recovery Coordinator under the Emergency Management Act 1986. The four environments of recovery are:

• The social, health and community effects
• The economic effects covering business, industry and tourism
• The effects on the natural environment including water catchments and national parks
• The effects on the built environment including buildings and infrastructure

DHS has established a recovery coordination team including case management coordination at the Traralgon office. The key roles of the team include

• Coordination of regional recovery activities across regional departments and the four impacted municipalities
• Administration functions for the Gippsland Emergency Recovery Committee
• Community impact assessment and related recovery planning functions
• Case management coordination
• Provision of DHS personal hardship grants
• Community Service Hub activities

The recovery team can be contacted at DHS Traralgon office: (03) 5177 2500

Community Service Hubs
Department of Human Services web page with details of all community services hubs currently operating. The Traralgon Community Service Hub details are:

Address : Portable Building
CATS Drive
Open: Monday - Friday 10:00am - 5:00pm
Phone : 03 5195 5011
E-mail : hubtraralgonsouth@bigpond.com.au

Centrelink
Centrelink provides emergency payments and financial assistance for eligible fire affected people including additional services for persons receiving commonwealth pensions and benefits. A Centrelink representative is located at the Traralgon Community Service Hub.

Centrelink Phone: 180 2211
(Community Service Hub: 03 5195 5011)

CFA
The Country Fire Association, or CFA, responds to fires on private land. The CFA is also involved in fire prevention and survival education and information campaigns.

CFA Bushfire Preparation brochure
Living in the Bush bushfire survival plan workbook.

Sale Headquarters: (03) 5149 1000
Warragul Headquarters: (03) 5623 1180
Bairnsdale Headquarters: (03) 5152 3048

Department of Primary Industries (DPI)
DPI's bushfire recovery program focuses on the provision of advice on pasture management, pest plant and animal control, erosion protection, animal health, livestock feed planning, crop and horticulture management and reforestation. Staff are also connecting landholders to services and grants provided by other recovery agencies and organisations.
Traralgon office: (03) 5172 2111

Department of Planning and Community Development
Traralgon Office: (03) 5174 7308

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) works with local people throughout Victoria to strengthen communities. DPCD administers a number of grant programs.

Special funding is being provided directly to local governments and other organisations, such as neighbourhood houses, community and sporting clubs and facilities in affected areas, to support activities that will help the community in the process of recovery.

Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA)
On 10 February 2009, the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments established the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority (VBRRA) to oversee and coordinate from state level the largest recovery and rebuilding program Victoria has ever faced.

The Authority is working with communities, businesses, charities, local councils and other government departments to help rebuild communities affected by the bushfires. VBRRA is a key agency represented on the Gippsland Emergency Recovery Committee.

The VBRRA website identifies the schedule for the building advisory service attendance at municipal locations. This service provides technical and planning assistance for rebuilding programs.
Victorian Bushfire Hotline: 1800 240 667
Regional Needs Coordinator: 0400 319 090

Department of Sustainability and the Environment (DSE)
Traralgon office: 03 5172 2111

The Department of Sustainability and Environment manages fire on Victoria 's 7.6 million hectares of public land, or roughly one third of the State. This includes reducing the risk of fire, containing outbreaks and managing environmental effects.

Business Victoria Grants and Assistance
Traralgon office: (03) 5173 9800

The Bushfires Community Events Program will provide grants of up to $3000 to local governments and community organisations in fire-affected communities, enabling them to host community events and activities.

Vic Roads
Phone: 13 11 71

Vic Roads web page with current road and traffic conditions. Except during regional emergencies, this page displays Melbourne Traffic conditions.

Victorian Bushfire Appeal
Phone: 1800 811 700
Victorian Business Centre
Traralgon office: (03) 5174 9233

Gippsland Law Institute
Phone: 1800 004 402

Bushfire building advice line
1300 360 320
Monday to Friday
8am to 8 pm

Accommodation Hotline
Phone: 1800 650 813

Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice
Phone: (03) 5126 2899

South Gippsland General Practice Alliance
Phone: (03) 5381 1756