State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell has used the most recent sitting of state parliament to call for more mental health services, additional consumer affairs workers to assist with insurance claims and more housing support in Rochester.
Ms Lovell said the biggest issue in the community was the deterioration of mental health, with too many people suffering because of a lack of qualified mental health practitioners in the region.
“I have been informed that people in need of mental health support are being referred to waiting lists,” Ms Lovell said.
“This is not good enough. The government needs to ensure additional mental health practitioners are deployed to the Rochester area now.”
In light of recent allegations that some insurance companies are refusing to insure homes in Rochester, providing inadequate cash settlement quotes or quoting unaffordable policy renewals, Ms Lovell said the people of Rochester were frustrated.
She said many residents had complained about a lack of communication from insurance companies, a saturation of technical language that was not easy to interpret, or feeling the pressure of having to accept cash settlements, usually to the financial detriment of the client.
“Dealing with insurance companies is often difficult, and residents need assistance to navigate the process,” she said.
“I have asked the minister to locate a team of consumer affairs officers in Rochester to ensure residents are fully informed of their rights.”
About 90 per cent of homes in Rochester were inundated, damaged, or isolated by the floods, and as a result many displaced homeowners and renters are now facing the reality of being unable to return to their homes any time soon.
Ms Lovell urged the government to construct additional social housing to combat the current displacement issue and future-proof the town’s rental housing requirements.