Victorian communities just outside the state’s worst-affected bushfire areas are taking action to provide housing for victims. Images: supplied, Jason Edwards.
Victorians who have lost their homes to bushfires are being rushed to find alternative accommodation as special registers have been set up to connect them with places to stay.
Real estate groups, including Ray White and Elders in the Euroa and Seymour region, are working to find owners with available properties, or even rooms, to provide stop-gaps and longer-term housing options for those who have lost properties – as well as their four-legged friends.
From farms to granny flats near the hard-hit Longwood bushfire area, property owners with vacant space are encouraged to contact the groups setting up registries.
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The goal is to help people who are uninsured, underinsured or cannot get accommodations from their insurer, that is, close to the community in which they work.
Agents are also reporting complex scenarios where homes have recently been sold or were for sale and have now been lost to the fires.
On Sunday, Elder Euroa’s Brendan Allen made a heartfelt plea on Instagram for housing to support those who had lost everything, and for those who needed a place to stay after the fires to contact him.
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A farm in Creightons Creek that had sold just a few months ago for $570,000. Image: supplied.
Little is left of the building. Image: supplied.
“We are a strong community, we will get through this together,” he said.
The post from his brendanallen_euroa Instagram account had racked up more than 500 likes by Monday afternoon.
Mr Allen said a handful of people had already asked for help, and others were volunteering without being asked, but they feared many more would be needed.
“We are trying to become a short-term channel,” he said.
“It’s a bit informal. Just people in the bush trying to help each other.”
The officer said they wanted to compile a shortlist of everything from single-family homes to granny flats and even caravans and huts on residential blocks, so fire victims could stay as close to their community as possible.
Mr Allen added that they also hoped to find homes where pets were welcome, be it next to their owners or in a kennel.
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A neighboring property in Creightons Creek that was also destroyed by the fires was for sale but has now been taken off the market. Image: supplied.
The remains of a Longwood property that had been rented out. Image: supplied.
They are looking for houses in the areas of Euroa, Avenel, Nagambie, Violet Town and Benalla.
“Anywhere within a reasonable distance of where people have been affected can have that on a register,” Mr Allen said.
So far, they have received offers from many of these homes, as well as from motor inn motels and similar businesses.
“A huge amount of land has been destroyed and it will take quite a long time for things to look like what they did,” Mr Allen said.
“But the people in the bush are resilient.”
Elders Euroa also run a hay warehouse for the fire-affected areas, and are looking for anyone who has stubble from last year’s harvest that can be used to help the relocated livestock.
2209A Creightons Creek Rd, Creightons Creek – for announcing sun real estate
Farmers and locals are working to defend properties near Yarck as part of the defense against the Longwood bushfires. Photo: Jason Edwards.
The agent said his company was aware of scenarios in which homes for sale or recently sold had burned down – but in most scenarios he was aware that the buyers had taken out insurance at the time they had a financial interest in the property, and that this should be covered.
Those who can help can contact the elders on (03) 5736 4300.
Ray White Euroa and Seymour director Shane Thomson said his company had already been notified that they had lost one property for sale, another property sold in recent months and a rental property.
“And we’re waiting for more calls,” Mr Thomson said.
Brendan Allen made a heartfelt plea for housing help on Instagram, which has already put owners in touch with people who have lost everything.
The remains of another house destroyed by fires in Yarck. Photo: Jason Edwards.
However, they are also trying to connect those who have lost their homes with rental properties in the region, with around 20 houses currently on their books in Euroa, Seymour and Benalla, where they planned to expedite applications for bushfire victims seeking longer stays with formal rental agreements.
“The idea is to try to match people with the right property that their family needs,” Thomson said.
“And a lot will happen in the coming days and weeks.”
The agency collects donations of household furniture and appliances.
Ray White chief economist Nerida Conisbee recently published a column noting that while the timeline for recovery may vary, values in most areas affected by wildfires initially tended to decline but eventually recovered.
Those fighting the fires watched with broken hearts as, in many cases, buildings burned. Photo: Jason Edwards
Ms Conisbee pointed to Mallacoota, which was hit hard by the Black Summer fires in 2019-2020, where house prices were initially hit – but the city’s typical house value subsequently rose by 70 per cent over the following three years.
This was partly in response to Covid-19 driving more people to regional Victoria, and the economist noted recovery timelines could vary depending on several factors.
“Short-term price impacts from disasters typically recover, but the timeline can vary significantly depending on location and conditions,” Conisbee said.
“But insurance costs and availability are becoming increasingly important factors in property values, especially in high-risk areas.
“(And) government investments in disaster mitigation can significantly impact the long-term value of real estate in affected areas.”
– Additional reporting, Alesha Capone
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