Tuesday, 3 October 2023

Flood recovery

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:43): Next week marks one year since the beginning of the floods that had a devastating impact across Northern Victoria. I want to acknowledge all those who were directly impacted, because 12 months on many are struggling to recover. The Environment and Planning Committee is conducting an inquiry into the floods, and I especially want to thank all those that have made submissions. At public hearings we have heard directly from local communities. In Rochester over 900 homes were flooded and hundreds of people are still living in caravans. One lady spoke of looking for a place to dump the contents of her camp toilet each morning. In Undera locals doorknocked neighbours to raise funds to fix broken levee banks that the state government built. At Echuca Village the CFA were brought in to assist without any proper training or direction and were told that no sandbags were available. In Seymour we heard there was no warning when Goulburn–‍Murray Water released thousands of megalitres of water overnight and farmers were left desperately trying to save stock left swimming in floodwaters.

Across the region communities and neighbours rallied together as roads and bridges were ripped apart. Many people were cut off and left stranded, with no access to food or supermarkets, no fuel, no power and no internet or mobile coverage. Individuals did their best to enact their own flood plans, but thousands of people were caught off guard by the lack of warnings and the floodwaters that rose much higher than predicted. It is clear from the evidence presented that the sheer scale of this disaster required a much higher level of statewide coordination and response. The committee’s final report is due in June next year, and my hope is that the recommendations put forward will help our state be better prepared for floods of this scale in future.