Thursday, 5 October 2023

Ministers statements: floods

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:05): I rise today to speak in my capacity as Minister for Water on the current floods that are occurring in a number of parts of the state. In my own region of Gippsland we have seen bushfires and floods in the same week off the back of one of the driest winters on record. Yesterday and early into this morning doorknocking occurred in parts of Tinamba, Tinamba West and Newry, with the community being asked to evacuate overnight. I also know that significant rainfall over the last few days has been really triggering for many community members in the north of the state.

Community safety is a priority for all Victorians, and we want to make sure that water authorities are reflecting that priority. Both Goulburn–Murray Water and Southern Rural Water undertook pre-emptive releases prior to the rainfall events that occurred on and from Tuesday. I can inform the chamber that Lake Glenmaggie is currently, as at the time that I am making this statement right now, passing floodwaters of 56,000 megalitres per day, having peaked at 58,000 megalitres per day overnight. Lake Glenmaggie is, at the time that I am speaking right now, currently 99 per cent full, and the calculated inflow is 53,760 megalitres per day. Southern Rural Water are anticipating they can start reducing releases from Glenmaggie today.

There is a ‘Not safe to return’ warning in place for Tinamba, Tinamba West and Newry, and we estimate that around 130 properties are at risk of over-floor flooding. This situation is incredibly dynamic. The alert system in place, the advice and the information that is provided will change and often change very quickly. I would urge people to install and stay across updates on the VicEmergency app and to monitor conditions as they change. Please stay safe. Please stay away from floodwaters. And thank you to all crews and frontline responders who are assisting at this time.