A temporary village will be set up in Elmore for Rochester residents whose homes are uninhabitable because of flooding.
The temporary village could eventually house up to 300 people while Rochester cleans up and rebuilds.
Emergency Management Victoria deputy commissioner Amanda Leck told those at a community meeting in Rochester on Monday, October 25 that authorities had been in negotiations with the Elmore Field Days committee to set up a temporary housing village at the site.
She said this would mean people could stay relatively close to Rochester while the re-build happened in the town.
Ms Leck said authorities were hoping to have 40 caravans set up initially at the site by this weekend.
In time, the plan is to have 300 people housed at the site.
The initial intake of those who go to the Elmore site will be triaged, with those deemed in the most need to move there first, Ms Leck said.
A State Control Centre spokesperson said the plans were dependent on a lease agreement being signed with both the landholders, and a contract being signed for work on the site.
Both were expected to happen on Tuesday, October 25.
He said while caravans would initially be used to house people in stage one of the temporary village, there would be different types of accommodation available in stage two to provide for more medium- to long-term residents.
What exactly that accommodation will look like is still unclear in these early stages of planning.
“At the moment, the priority is getting people into dry and safe accommodation,” the spokesperson said.
“The caravan scenario is a short-term option.
“Later we will look at stage two in terms of short- and medium-term options.”
Ms Leck said, in the meantime, emergency accommodation was still available in Bendigo for Rochester residents.