“I lost everything that first day,”: Why a heritage-listed café cannot stay above water

Andrew Serratore has owned Jerry’s Milk Bar in Elwood for ten years. On Andrew’s first day of business he found the heritage-listed café under water. Chairs, tables and electrical equipment were damaged by the flood. Every so often a vehicle would pass by, sending a wave of water through the entrance door.

“I lost everything that first day,” Andrew said. Having no loss-of-income insurance, money for repairs came out of his own pocket.

With a poor drainage system and situated only a few metres above sea level, Elwood is prone to flash flooding. During heavy rain the Elwood Canal will overflow, leaving many homes and businesses at risk of flooding.

Since changing hands nearly 10 years ago, the café has experienced four major floods. Now Andrew is quick to sandbag the entrances, and direct traffic away from the shop front. Stepping inside the 1950s inspired café, it would be hard to guess it had been continuously flood damaged. The café features red stools and colourful décor with vintage posters on the walls.

“I have to protect my shop,” Andrew said.

The flooding had a “major effect on my life and my mental state,” Andrew said. Andrew lives upstairs so that he can be close by if the café were to flood.

“You know even last night I couldn’t sleep. I was getting updates throughout the night about some gauge in Caulfield. It’s just a way of life now.”

When I asked Andrew what changes he’d like to see in local federal representation, he became frustrated.

All throughout the interview he would jump the gun with questions and reply with bitter acceptance of his situation. This wasn’t his first interview. Local newspapers had approached him in the past, and the local mayor had reached out many months ago but hadn’t contacted him since. His tone told me this was just another interview, that I couldn’t give him hope.

“Labor and Macnamara have done nothing for my business. I’m over it,” Andrew said.

Josh Burns, the new Labor MP for Macnamara promised to see through several local initiatives such as assistance for flooding in Elwood, for which he pledged $5 million.

But because of the Coalition’s win at the election, many proposed initiatives will not go forward.

“We made the commitment [to the Elwood flooding project] under a Labor government, so if it does go ahead it would be a matter for the government,” Mr Burns said.

In the past, Macnamara, previously known as Melbourne Ports was held by Michael Danby. During the federal election, Mr Burns secured the seat with an 8.5 percent swing.

The mayor of Port Phillip, Mr Dick Gross described Mr Burns as “more locally focused” than Mr Danby, who held interests foreign affairs.

Mr Burns will be one of the youngest MPs in the House of Representatives.