Emergency preparedness is a key issue facing communities everywhere...
With support from The Resilience Canopy, the Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG) implemented a range of significant, community-led projects to strengthen Millgrove’s emergency preparedness. The results in this picturesque Victorian town are already paying dividends. And they’re just getting started.
the amount (in AUD) that Australia spends every year on natural disasters. This is predicted to increase to a staggering $73 billion per year by 2060 (Deloitte Access Economics 2021) . Source
Every $1 AUD invested in pre-disaster resilience saves $3-$13 in post-disaster recovery. Source
People in Australia who live in communities with a low or moderate level of disaster resilience. Source
Surrounded by dense forest and with the Yarra River running through it, Millgrove is classified as one of the highest bushfire-risk communities in Victoria and is also prone to significant flooding and storms.
"The Millgrove community is not wealthy, but there is much resilience here. People genuinely care for each other, and that’s what drives change."
— Cindy McLeish MP
With the support of The Resilience Canopy, The Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG) undertook deep dive sessions to assess community risks and to plan proactively.
This is part of The Resilience Canopy's Six-Step Engagement Model (see video), which helps communities identify their strengths and challenges through numerous community engagement forums and mapping exercises.
After much hard work and deliberating, Millgrove created its Resilience Plan which contained nine priority projects.
Unsurprisingly, given the community’s susceptibility to fires and floods, the plan featured a number of disaster-related projects, primarily to:
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The Resilience Canopy guided community members on how to approach partners and helped connect them together...
According to MRAG, one of the main benefits in addition to providing valuable contacts was that this process allowed the community to ‘dream big’.
As a result, Millgrove has been successfully galvanising the support of community, council, government programs, funding bodies, and partners to realise their ‘big dream’ emergency preparedness ambitions.
1. Increase community awareness and preparedness
Three community open days, sponsored in part by the local Bendigo Bank, have been run so far as part of this campaign to engage locals in emergency preparedness.
Featuring informative workshops, guest speakers and celebrations of the Millgrove Plan and achievements made to-date, these have been well received by the broader community.
MRAG has also engaged Millwarra Primary School, which the group sees as being pivotal in involving youth in community projects and resilience education. This will build intergenerational resilience and help keep Millgrove as strong and together as possible.
MRAG has also invested in an informative website and Welcome Pack to increase connectivity, as well as first aid training for the committee and the CFA to develop essential skills for emergency situations.
2. Strengthen phone and internet communications
Prior to their Resilience Plan, Millgrove residents were frequently left cut off during extreme weather events, leaving them stranded, un-contactable, riddled with anxiety.
Thankfully, Millgrove has made great strides in this area.
Telstra has upgraded the nearby telecommunications tower, greatly improving the overall mobile coverage in the region. Not content with this. And Optus now share reception capabilities, providing further peace-of-mind.
In terms of internet, key facilities and organisations in Millgrove have now established Star Link Wi-Fi, which will enable more reliable internet connectivity during emergencies.
3. Reduce fire risk at the sawmill
Given the dense forestry around Millgrove, the sawmill has long been one of the town's key assets. However, it has also been identified as a potential fire risk.
This Resilience Plan item sought to improve communications with the owner and relevant State Government departments to better manage the build-up of fuel and to explore the long-term repurposing of the site.
MRAG has had constructive discussions with the mill owner, who has already reduced the site’s fuel usage and storage.
Further discussions are ongoing, but there is no doubt that this project has already improved community connection and set them up for greater success in the near future.
4. Enhance roads and trails
MRAG is thrilled to have completed improvements to River Road and Dee Trails, making them safer for residents and visitors alike. Now, they turn their attention to the longer-term focuses…
From an emergency preparedness standpoint, Millgrove only has one main road in and out, limiting its evacuation and recovery options. Thus, providing more evacuation routes is essential in reducing vulnerability in emergencies.
MRAG has begun an audit for alternative exit roads. One of those suggested is on a property that is currently being sold, and the community is keen to speak with the new owners about the options.
5. Support climate-resilient properties
Millgrove has retrofit its Resilient Buildings Council and is now setting its sights on a whole community retrofit program. MRAG is currently preparing grant applications to support this, be it for the whole community or as part of a trial.
One grant application has a proposed submission date in September 2025. If successful, 3-5 local residences will be upgraded with fire and flood resistant features, with the idea being to use these as models to obtain funding and roll this out more widely over time.
"Our group has become rather resilient without knowing about resilience."
— MRAG President Maureen
Aside from the obvious impacts of the actions above, Millgrove has been transformed as a community in other ways too.
Connection, respect, empowerment, and wisdom, also known as CREW, are at the centre of any Resilient Community. Here’s how Millgrove has increased its CREW characteristics by working through The Resilience Canopy program...
And in arguably the greatest testament to the community’s efforts, Millgrove’s vision and success is inspiring other communities around Australia.
WaNt to know more about C.r.e.w.?
What characteristics does a resilient Canopy Community have in common? Connection, Respect, Empowerment, and Wisdom, also known as C.R.E.W. Find out more about C.R.E.W. on our Program page
Millgrove will continue to take meaningful steps to complete its remaining Resilience Plan projects...
...such as increasing community awareness around emergencies, supporting climate-resilient building improvements, and working on creating more evacuation routes.
MRAG has recently created a Community Plan 2025, which combines the Resilience Plan with the future vision of Millgrove.
The document has been printed and disseminated to many people in the community, and is being presented to local, state and federal government representatives and other agencies.
Dynamic and evolving, this Community Plan will ensure that the Canopy Community of Millgrove can keep leading its own journey and going from strength to strength in preparing for emergencies, and the community’s other key priorities.
"Take the journey, stay positive and have faith in those who are walking with you"
— MRAG President Maureen
