A bushfire-affected resident has raised issues with the recovery effort during summer.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Her experience was raised in a submission to the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements, which was made public on the commission's website.
The resident praised the $500 mayoral assistance payment, charity assistance in the form of bottled water, food and information as well as the services of the firefighters and army reserve.
However the resident said she would have liked more financial assistance at a local government level.
The resident also claimed the disaster recovery centre set up in Balmoral Village Hall prohibited "the use of common facility for community-based functions".
"Fire shed functions became the only opportunity to meet with others from the community," she said.
"Charity personnel claimed the use of the entire [Balmoral Village] hall, its kitchen and outdoor facilities.
"With many houses affected by fires and burnt outdoors we had nowhere to meet without being confronted by charity workers."
Another disaster recovery centre concern was the nutritional value of the food available.
"Food provided by charities was by and large inedible, of poor quality, full of salt, sugar and preservatives," she said.
"Not catering for gluten-free, sugar-free, vegetarian or vegan diets.
"Selection appeared accidental and it was possibly gathered by providing close to the expired date items, rather than concern for wellbeing and real dietary and nutritional needs of traumatised members of the community."
The resident suggested donated feminine hygiene products be put in a discreet location.
"Goods like pads and tampons were presented in an open space making them uncomfortable to reach for in the presence of men," she said.
"All goods were arranged on tables in an open space."
The resident said they wanted to have a space to meet with community members without being approached for services.
"The ratio of charity personnel to people was very high making feel very uncomfortable," she said.
"Some charity workers appeared aggressive in they eagerness to provide assistance. This was very off-putting.
"Gentleness and warmth was seldom seen amongst the charity workers."
The resident said the fire shed became the only place to meet without being confronted by charity workers.
There were objections to the use of the fire shed for this function.
"Maybe so but many RFS Balmoral members helped the community recover from traumas after the fires," she said.
The Royal Commission team is due to deliver its findings by October 28.
