2026 Bushfires Recovery: Clean-up and rebuild

If your kerbside bin was damaged or lost in the fire you can apply for a FREE repair or replacement online. You don’t need to fill in multiple forms for multiple bins, simply write all required bins into the comments section. Or give council a call during business hours on 1800 065 993. Arrange repairs or replacement for damaged bins.

Ruffy Transfer Station remains unmanned at this time. However, the skips on site will be opened for use by Ruffy residents only.

This is for small amounts of domestic waste (not clean up materials):

• General waste
• Recycling
• Food waste

Please only bring what you need removed from your home. Clean-up support will be separate.

Help to clean-up uninsured or underinsured homes impacted by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires will be available soon.

If your home has been damaged you can find more information and register for updates via the Victorian Government website.

Clause 52.10 removes the need for landowners to get planning permission for the use of land for rebuilding a dwelling where planning permission would normally be required (for example in the Farming Zone).

It does not remove all requirements to comply with planning controls such as overlays or setback distances. These can still trigger planning permits.

Subject to certain criteria, and if a planning permit is required, Clause 52.10 also makes it so that your application will not be advertised to neighbours or others nearby.

It aims to reduce delays in the planning process, provide certainty for rebuilding and support community recovery.

To qualify for the use exemption, you need to satisfy the following requirements:

• A dwelling on the land must have been damaged or destroyed as a result of an emergency after 1 January 2019.
• The use must commence within 7 years after the date the dwelling was damaged or destroyed.
• The dwelling must not be a building that was constructed under clause 52.07.
• The land must not be used for more than the number of dwellings the land was lawfully used for before the dwelling was damaged or destroyed.
• Access to the dwelling must be provided via an all-weather road with dimensions adequate to accommodate emergency vehicles.
• The dwelling must be connected to reticulated sewerage, if available. If reticulated sewerage is not available, all wastewater from the dwelling must be treated and retained within the lot in accordance with the requirements of the Environment Protection Regulations under the Environment Protection Act 2017for an on-site wastewater management system.
• The dwelling must be connected to a reticulated potable water supply or have an alternative potable water supply with adequate storage for domestic use as well as for fire fighting purposes.
• The dwelling must be connected to a reticulated electricity supply or have an alternative energy source.

To qualify for the advertising exemption for use and/or development, you will need to meet the following criteria:

• The application must be lodged within 7 years of the date the building was damaged or destroyed.
• A building or works on the land must have been damaged or destroyed as a result of an emergency after 1 January 2019.
• If the application is for a dwelling, then the application must only be for the number of dwellings that were damaged or destroyed.
• A use must be a use that was lawfully carried out on the land immediately before the building or works was damaged or destroyed and cannot continue without the building or works being reconstructed.
• A development must be for:
  • The repair of the damaged or destroyed building or works; or
  • The construction of a building, or the construction or carrying out of works, to replace the damaged or destroyed building or works.

Any landuse can qualify for the advertising exemption, provided that they meet the exemptions listed above. This includes but is not limited to industries, tourist accommodation, wineries, intensive farming practices and other uses that were carried out with the required planning permission.

It is important to note that depending on the siting of the new building, you may still require a planning permit. Many of the properties affected by the bushfires are subject to overlays that will trigger a planning permit regardless of the exemptions identified above.

For more information on whether your siting requires a planning permit, please contact Council’s Planning Department.

It is important to note that Clause 52.10 does not override the stipulations of any covenants, caveats, easements or Section 173 Agreements that apply to your property.

Clause 52.07 allows:

• temporary accommodation for people who lost their principal place of residence;
• temporary buildings to allow businesses to continue operating;
• removal of damaged buildings or materials;
• limited vegetation removal associated with recovery; and/or
• short‑term flexibility for extractive industries supplying recovery materials.

The exemptions provided for under Clause 52.07 are temporary only and are designed to support recovery. Clause 52.07 provides the exemptions for a limited timeframe. If you want to keep the buildings that you have constructed using Clause 52.07 on a permanent basis, you will need to apply for a planning and building permit.

Clause 52.07 is quite strict with the use, location and size of temporary accommodation allowed under the rule of the exemption. The restrictions are:

• Your temporary accommodation must be located on the same property as your primary place of residence.
• You can only use your property for temporary accommodation for up to three years.
• The combined gross-floor area of all buildings you construct must not be more 60 square metres.
• Any building you construct must be completed within 18 months of when your home was damaged or destroyed by the bushfire.
• Access to your temporary accommodation must be provided via an all-weather road with dimensions adequate to accommodate emergency vehicles.
• Your temporary accommodation must be connected to a reticulated sewerage system or if that is not available, your wastewater must be:
  • treated and retained on-site in accordance with the Environment Protection Act 2017, the Environment Protection Regulations 2021 and Environment Reference Standard 2021; or
  • treated and disposed of to the satisfaction of your council

It is important to note that depending on the siting of the new building, you may still require a planning permit. Many of the properties affected by the bushfires are subject to overlays that will trigger additional requirements which you need to check with the Council.

To start the process, it is important to provide the following information to Council before starting:

• Description of the proposed building
• Description of the proposed use
• Description of the land where the temporary accommodation will be used or constructed:
  • address of land; OR
  • title particulars of land:  OR
  • plan showing the land; OR
  • any combination of these.

It is important to note that Clause 52.07 does not override the stipulations of any covenants, caveats, easements or Section 173 Agreements that apply to your property.

The care of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife must be referred to an authorised wildlife shelter or foster carer, wildlife rehabilitation organisation or veterinarian.

The Help for Injured Wildlife tool will help you locate and contact the closest relevant wildlife carers and rescue and rehabilitation organisations to help the injured wildlife.

Visit wildlife.vic.gov.au for more information

Air quality reporting on the EPA website is updated hourly with data collected from our quality monitoring sites across Victoria. Air quality forecasts are updated daily at 5 pm with forecasts for the next 24 hours.

Learn more at epa.vic.gov.au

Water from rivers and creeks impacted by fire is likely to contain pathogens and chemicals.

For example, firefighting activities will lead to run-off of chemicals from surrounding land; animals will seek protection near water and will contaminate the water when defecating, or worse, dying and decomposing.

As a consequence, you should immediately stop using that water for drinking, washing (including brushing teeth), preparing food and for any primary contact recreation.

Relief Drinking Water Standard Operating Procedure FAQs

While many people use masks during periods of heavy smoke, they are not universally recommended for everyone, and their effectiveness depends heavily on the type of mask and how it is worn.

Standard surgical or cloth masks are not effective against fine smoke particles because they do not filter them out and do not provide a tight face seal.

Only certified P2 respirators are designed to filter out the fine particles found in smoke, however they are not recommended for general community use.

• Individuals with Pre-existing Conditions: People with respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, or emphysema, and those with heart conditions, may find that masks make breathing more difficult and exacerbate their symptoms.
• Children and the Elderly: Very young children should not wear masks because of the risk of suffocation. Older adults with underlying health issues may also struggle with the reduced airflow caused by masks.
• People with Facial Hair: Most masks require a tight seal to work effectively. Facial hair often prevents this seal, rendering the mask ineffective in filtering smoke particles.

The most effective way to protect yourself from bushfire smoke is to stay indoors with windows and doors closed and avoid vigorous exercise.