Seven companies step up to assist with recovery effort
More than 20 shipping containers will be trucked to Gippsland and the state’s north east this weekend as part of the Victorian Transport Association’s (VTA’s) bushfire relief appeal.
Last month, the VTA announced it was leading an initiative with stevedore Victoria International Container Terminal (VICT) and Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV) to provide containers so Victorians having to rebuild could store materials safely and securely on-site.
Drivers from DSN Transport, Cahills Transport, Freestones, Secon Logistics, Nationwide Towing, Buchan Towing and Tasman Logistics will subsequently be making the trip to east Gippsland this weekend.
How the VTA made the call for help, here
VTA CEO Peter Anderson joined VICT CEO Tim Vancampen and Tasman Logistics CEO Ivan Vanis at VICT’s Webb Dock headquarters to inspect one of the containers being prepared.
Anderson says the association was overwhelmed by offers from members and transport companies to provide drivers, prime-movers and side-loaders to deliver the containers.
“Thanks to the generosity of many of our members, we have been able to arrange for well over 20 shipping containers to be delivered as far away as Mallacoota in the far east of the state so that families that are in the process of rebuilding can store material safely on-site,” he says.
“Their provision of equipment, labour and fuel to transport these containers represents a significant investment of time and resources and we appreciate the immense show of support from these operators for their fellow Victorians.
“We also appreciate the generosity of VICT who donated the containers, as well as Bushfire Recovery Victoria who helped connect us with families in eastern Victoria that were in dire need of containers to securely store building materials and personal effects during reconstruction,” Anderson says.
Vancampen says the company is proud to be working with the VTA and BRV in providing containers to the bushfire effected communities.
“The donated containers will hopefully assist the families that have been heavily impacted and provide them with storage while they rebuild their homes and properties. The bushfires were devastating for all involved and this donation is the least we can do to assist and support the communities to rebuild,” he adds.
Vanis notes: “We are very pleased to partner with the VTA and associated members to assist our extended communities in their time of need – this is what Australia is about.”