Grass Flat-Telfers Rd Fire Recovery

For the most up to date information on relief and recovery support available to residents impacted by the Victorian January Grass Flat-Telfers Road bushfires, please see the below tabs or visit:

VicEmergency website or Emergency Recovery Victoria.

Recovery Hub

Residents affected by the fire are encouraged to visit Council's recovery hub in Natimuk. Horsham Rural City Council staff, together with representatives from other services are available at the recovery hub to provide information and support. Call in for a cuppa and help us develop the Cuppa and Conversation Program.

NC² Building - 62 Main Street Natimuk

Tuesdays 2pm -6pm
Wednesday 10am-4pm

For further information, contact Rhonda McNeil on 0472 704 674 or recovery@hrcc.vic.gov.au

If you need to report a road, tree or other safety issue on Council-managed land that could pose an immediate risk to public safety, please report it online here, or call our customer service team on 03 5382 9777 during business hours, Monday to Friday.

Recovery Newsletter

Find out all the latest news and information in our regular Recovery Newsletters below.

Recovery Newsletter - May 2026(PDF, 606KB)

Recovery Newsletter - April 2026(PDF, 313KB)

Recovery Newsletter - March 2026(PDF, 492KB)

Community Newsletter - January 2026(PDF, 567KB)

HRCC eNews - January 2026

Waste Disposal

Council's waste collections are operating as normal, however, additional provisions have been made for bushfire waste to be taken to either the Natimuk Recycling Facility or the Quantong Transfer Station.

Natimuk Recycling Facility

Scrap metal can be placed on the ordinary scrap metal pile at the Natimuk Recycling Facility.
Other bushfire waste should be placed in the skip bin marked "Bushfire Waste" at the Natimuk Recycling Facility.
Bushfire affected green waste, including trees, branches, etc should be placed in the skip bin marked "Bushfire Green Waste".

Quantong Recycling Facility

Scrap metal can be placed on the ordinary scrap metal pile at the Quantong Transfer Station.
Other bushfire waste should be placed in the general garbage bins marked "Bushfire Waste".
Bushfire affected green waste, including trees, branches, etc should be placed int he skip bin marked "Bushfire Green Waste".

Asbestos

Asbestos or materials suspected of containing asbestos must be removed by a licensed asbestos removalist. Local licensed asbestos removalists are:

SJR Demolition and Earthmoving, phone 0408 590 510, email admin@sjrdemolitionandearthmoving.com.au
HED Industries, phone: 0484 626 559, email info@hedindustries.com.au

If removing asbestos yourself, please note

Measures to minimise dust during the process including removing whole pieces and not breaking them up, and wetting down material prior to removal.
Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is worn including: coveralls, gloves, P2 face mask and eye protection.
Packaged and sealed asbestos can be taken to Dooen Landfill, 132 Ladlows Road, Dooen.

Asbestos removal handout(PDF, 133KB)

Please note: Tyres and eWaste must be taken to a transfer station for proper disposal.

There will be no charge at Council's waste disposal facilities for property owners who have been affected by the fire, however you will need to provide proof of residence.

FREE waste disposal for affected residence ends Tuesday 30th June 2026.

Transfer station locations

Horsham: 93 Kenny Road, Haven, open 10am to 5pm daily
Mt Zero: 693 Wonwondah Dadswells Bridge Road, Laharum, pen 9am to 12noon Saturday
Quantong: 497 Lanes Avenue, Quantong, open 10am to 7pm daily (temporarily)
Toolondo: 217 Telangatuk East Rocklands Road, open 1pm to 4pm Thursday

Clean-up Support

Clean-up help is available for uninsured and underinsured homes, businesses and community assets.

Eligible households may receive up to $1,500 including:

Up to $750 - 100% of the cost of tank cleaning assistance
Up to $750 - 100% of the cost of roof and gutter cleaning assistance.

Note: This rebate is for households who are not connected to the mains water supply and are not covered by primary producer programs. Support is limited to domestic drinking water needs, not agricultural, stock or garden purposes.

For further information and to register, visit vic.gov.au/clean-support-january-2026-bushfires

Demolition of bushfire-affected structures fact sheet(PDF, 177KB)

Support for Farmers

Victoria Bushfires January 2026 - Agriculture Victoria Resource Recovery Directory(PDF, 318KB)

Animal welfare: Agriculture Victoria has teams of field staff on the ground supporting farmers, prioritising animal welfare and carrying out impact assessments across the State. Any farmers needing supporting with animal welfare should call 1800 226 226.

Fodder: Emergency fodder is being delivered to farmers through the Emergency Fodder Support program. Farmers can request emergency fodder by contacting the Victorian Farmers Federation on 1300 882 833 or vff@vff.org.au

Livestock disposal: Agriculture Victoria have setup a Livestock Disposal Advisory Service to assist landholders with managing deceased livestock. Farmers can contact the advisory service on 0407 145 077 or livestock.disposal@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Victorian Primary Producer Recovery Grants: Grants of up to $75,000 are now available to eligible primary producers to help cover the costs of cleanup and reinstating their enterprises that have suffered direct damage as a result of bushfires. This includes repairing, reconditioning or replacing essential plant or equipment damaged by the bushfires. Applications are now open and will close at 4pm on 21 October 2026. Information is available on the Rural Finance website.

Concessional loans for primary producers: Concessional loans are now available to help primary producers recover from the bushfires. Loans of up to $250,000 are available for primary producers who have suffered significant damage to assets. Applications are now open and will close on 21 October 2026 at 4pm. Further Information is available on the Rural Finance website.

Farm drought support grants: These grants aim to assist primary production businesses to implement on-farm instrasturcture improvements and undertake essential business activities that improve drought management and preparedness. This program is available to eligible primary producers in all Local Government Areas of Victoria. Eligible primary producers are required to provide dollar for dollar matching funding co-contribution, with a total amount of a grant is up to $5,000 (excluding GST). Applications are open until funds are exhausted, or 30 June 2026 whichever comes first. Further information is available on the Rural Finance website.

Look Over the Farm Gate: Look Over the Farm Gate applications opened on 16 January 2026. Grants of up to $5,000 are available to run events that support mental health, wellbeing and social connection for farmers and farming families. All events must be held before 30 June 2026. This program is managed by the National Centre for Farmer Health on behalf of the Victorian Government. Further details are available on the National Centre for Farmer Health website.

The Agriculture Victoria website provides details of community groups and service organisations that are supporting farmers with recovery, including fodder, fencing repairs, wellbeing services and financial assistance.

Justice of the Peace (JP)

If you have important documents that need to be witnessed/certified, a JP is available at the Horsham Library every Wednesday from 10am to 1pm.

Booking an appointment is not required, but you can phone the Horsham Library on 5382 5707 to check that they are in attendance.

If you require JP services outside of the hours of 10am-1pm on a Wednesday, you can visit Horsham Police Station at 20 Roberts Avenue, Horsham.

If your request is urgent, please contact Council on 5382 9777 and we will put you in touch with a local JP who can assist.

Legal Assistance

Allied Justice

Allied Justice is an organisation that provides free legal advice, information and community legal education to people who live, work or study in the Grampians region. If you've been impacted by the bushfire, they can provide legal help with problems such as financial hardship, insurance claims, property damage, tenancy issues, debt management, employment issues, replacing damaged, lost or destroyed documents, family violence, family law, parenting orders compliance and intervention orders compliance. For further details please call 03 5331 5999 or 1800 466 488 (free call) or email help@alliedjustice.org.au
Allied Justice website
Allied just flyer(PDF, 115KB)

Disaster Legal Help Victoria

Support for people affected by disasters in Victoria. Call 1800 113 432 weekdays between 8am to 6pm for legal information and referrals.
Disaster Legal Help Victoria website
Disaster Legal Help flyer.pdf(PDF, 820KB)
Insurance checklist - after the event(PDF, 242KB)
Legal health checklist(PDF, 190KB)
Emergency assistance and accommodation(PDF, 238KB)
Replacing lost documents(PDF, 196KB)
Centrelink and disasters - getting help (Social Security Rights Victoria)(PDF, 796KB)
Renting and disasters - legal basics (Tenants Victoria)(PDF, 139KB)
Disaster Legal Help (Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service)(PDF, 125KB)
Insurance - cash settlements(PDF, 242KB)

Victoria Legal Aid

Victoria Legal Aid helps people with their legal problems. They focus on protecting the rights of Victorians and representing those who need it the most.
Victoria Legal Aid website

Insurance

If you require legal advice specific to your situation, you can book an appointment through any of the following free legal services:

Victoria Legal Aid Horsham Office, phone 5381 6000
Allied Justice, phone 5331 5999
Disaster Legal Help Victoria, phone 1800 113 432

See the Legal assistance tab for more information about free legal services and the support they can provide with insurance.

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) is the representative body for the general insurance industry of Australia. They are on the ground following disasters to coordinate insurer response. The ICA encourages impacted businesses and individuals to get in touch with their insurer or broker to lodge a claim as soon as its safe to return to your property.

Disaster and Emergency Recovery

A range of support is available for people experiencing trauma, damage or loss due to disasters and emergencies.

Visit the Department of Families and Fairness website for further details.

Support for carers

If you are providing unpaid support to a family member or friend who has been affected by the fire, you may be finding your caring role harder to manage right now. Alongside emergency services that focus on safety, housing and finances, you may need extra support to keep caring for the person you look after. This includes help to:

Keep caring even if your usual routines are disrupted or you need to move temporarily
Look after the person you care for while accessing emergency or recovery services
Find short-term or emergency support including respite
Navigate multiple services at the same time.

For further information, visit the Carers Victoria website.

Health advice

Please note: The information in some of these links is available in languages other than English

Commonwealth Recovery Payments

Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA): Provides short-term income support for individuals who have lost income as a direct result of the Victorian bushfires that started in January 2026. The DRA is paid for 13 weeks, with the rate based on individual circumstances (for example, partnered, single, caring for children).

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP): A one-off payment for people significantly affected by a major disaster. $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child for those whose home or major assets have been destroyed or severely damaged, those seriously injured, or those who have lost an immediate family member.

For further information, visit the Services Australia website.

Emergency Recovery hotline - 1800 560 760

If you have been affected by bushfire, support is available to help you in your recovery.
Call the hotline on 1800 560 760 from 8am to 7pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on weekends. Press 9 for an interpreter.
Information about recovery support is also available on the VicEmergency website and the Emergency Recovery Victoria website.

Disaster Relief and Business Support

For business support and assistance, please contact Council's Business and Tourism Team on business@hrcc.vic.gov.au or 5382 9507.

Prolonged power outage payment
If your business has been without power for more than 7 days you may be eligible for a payment. For more information, visit energy.vic.gov.au/about-energy/safety/power-outages

Business Recovery Advisory Service
Free, confidential, one-on-one support to business owners to identify needs and develop strategies for long-term recovery. For more information, visit business.vic.gov.au

Small Business Financial Counselling Service
Free, confidential financial counselling to businesses who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship due to the bushfires. More information, visit business.vic.gov.au

CommBank
Emergency assistance to customers and businesses affected by bushfires and other disasters. Visit the CommBank website for further details.

National Australia Bank
Disaster relief grants to customers severely impacted by natural disasters. Visit the National Australia Bank website for further details.

Victorian Small Business Commission
Guidance for retail tenants requesting support from the landlords(PDF, 165KB)

Counselling and Mental Health Services

Trauma counselling, general counselling and mental health support services are available for anyone affected by the fires across the Wimmera and Grampians region.
Counselling and mental health support services flyer(PDF, 61KB)

Better Health
The Victorian Government's Better Health website has information on trauma and emergencies and helpful strategies on how to best manage trauma for you and your family.
Counselling, online and phone support for mental illness
Trauma recovery services

Rural Financial Counselling Service - Victoria West
Provides free, independent and confidential financial and wellbeing counselling services to farmers and small business owners in rural areas of Western Victoria.
P: 1300, 735 578 | E: admin@wswrcs.com.au | W: https://wswrcs.com.au/
Rural Financial Counselling Service disaster recovery flyer(PDF, 767KB)

MELI Financial Counselling Program
Meli is a not-for-profit community service organisation, committed to supporting people and strengthening communities. They have a financial counsellor based in Horsham who can provide free, confidential and non-judgmental services to people experiencing financial hardship including debt, job loss, insurance claims, fines, or any form of financial distress. For further information, contact the Counselling Intake Team on 03 5226 8900 or intake@meli.org.au or visit the Meli website.
Meli financial counselling brochure(PDF, 428KB)

How to help someone doing it tough

R U OK? have prepared a Mateship Manual to help you support someone who's doing it tough because of a natural disaster or emergency.

For further details, visit the R U OK? website

R U OK? Mateship Manual(PDF, 2MB)

Emergency Recovery Support Program

The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) have now activated the Emergency Recovery Support Program for people directly affected by the January 2026 fires. Support is based on you and your family's needs. Support officers can advise on what services are available or connect you to programs. They can help with:

Finding local services
Insurance and legal questions
Money problems
Your health and wellbeing
Registering from government services.

For further information, visit the VicEmergency website: Relief and Recovery - VicEmergency scroll down to the Emergency Recovery Support Program section.

You can also call the Emergency Recovery Support Hotline on 1800 560 760 (press 9 for an interpreter or call TIS on 131450).

Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation

The Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation (VERRF) is a charitable trust, supported by the State Government of Victoria.

The VERRF is independent of government and all funds raised will support relief and recovery programs not otherwise fully met through government assistance.

During events of state significance such as the 2025-26 Victorian bushfires, the VERRF is stood up by the Victorian Government to administer an appeal. When stood up, the VERRF will establish criteria that determines who can apply for financial support.

Donations: The VERRF is accepting donations to support people, organisations and communities affected by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires. You can make a donation here: https://www.vic.gov.au/2026-Victorian-Bushfire-Appeal

Payments: A $1,000 payment is available if bushfires in Victoria significantly damaged or destroyed your home during the 2025-26 summer. You can apply for VERRF grant here: https://www.vic.gov.au/apply-victorian-emergency-relief-and-recovery-foundation-support

For further details, visit the VERRF website.