Wednesday, 21 February 2024

Oakleigh electorate storms

Steve DIMOPOULOS (Oakleigh – Minister for Environment, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, Minister for Outdoor Recreation) (09:51): Last week we witnessed some of the worst of what nature can do: wild storms, flooding, bushfires and extreme heat all in one day. We also witnessed what our community does best. In my area wild storms hit so quickly and with incredible force. We saw significant damage to homes, businesses and vehicles; trees ripped out; roads blocked; and powerlines down. I would like to express my sincere thanks to our teams at Monash SES and Glen Eira SES. These amazing people, mostly volunteers, are in action at a moment’s notice for 24 hours, seven days a week – often in dangerous and difficult conditions.

On Friday I visited the Monash SES in my electorate to show my appreciation. This is a team that in just three days responded to over 1000 requests for assistance – the biggest response by any SES in Victoria. I would also like to say thank you to all our other emergency responders, including local police, council officers and others who were responding and directing traffic in challenging circumstances.

Finally, thank you to our schoolteachers. In my community, the storm hit just before school pick-up at 3:30 pm. With many parents stuck out in the open, this was especially difficult for the younger students. The support given by the teachers to keep the kids calm and safe is very much appreciated.

These storm events, which unfortunately are becoming more common, really do challenge us all, but as always Victorians have shown they will meet the challenge with a real community spirit, and I cannot thank my community enough for doing so.