The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee, which conducted the inquiry, included members for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad, Wendy Lovell and Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, and brought the final report to parliament on July 30.
Across 18 months of work the committee heard evidence at public hearings in Rochester, Echuca, Seymour, Shepparton and Melbourne, and accepted 880 submissions.
The final report tabled 90 findings and 73 recommendations — and the government has six months to respond.
Some of the key findings and recommendations relating to the northern Victorian flooding events included:
Finding 26: Around the 2022 flood event, inflows to Lake Eildon were significantly higher than releases. While the releases from Lake Eildon contributed to flooding immediately downstream of the storage, the timing of these releases reduced the severity of the flood peak further downstream, including at Seymour and Shepparton.
Finding 32: The transfer of state-owned rain and river gauges into the Bureau of Meteorology’s existing flood warning network is an appropriate measure to improve the communication of flood warnings.
Recommendation 41: The transfer of ownership and responsibility for public gauges to the Bureau of Meteorology should be completed as a priority, and the Victorian Government should request the Commonwealth Government provide a public update by the end of 2024 on these transfer timelines.
Finding 37: During the 2022 flood event, the transmission of emergency warnings was inconsistent across affected communities. Some areas received excessive warnings from competing sources while others received incorrect, limited or delayed warnings. In both circumstances communities experienced a degree of confusion, which limited people’s capacity to make informed decisions.
Finding 44: Early warnings issued during the 2022 flood event demonstrated several issues:
• inconsistent dissemination and clarity of warnings and information;
• information was delayed or inaccurate, or did not contain sufficient detail for the public to make informed decisions; and
• some community members lacked awareness of where to access information, resulting in some over-relying on social media information.
Recommendation 45: That the Victorian Government improve the flood warning system so that warnings are:
• accurate with the most up-to-date information;
• delivered in a timely way;
• clear and easily understood;
• consistently disseminated across different communities; and
• accessible in relevant formats and languages, where appropriate.
Recommendation 49: That the Victorian Government increase funding for training of volunteers to boost the capacity of State Emergency Service units and Shepparton and Echuca and Moama Search and Rescue squads to respond during emergencies.
Finding 63: There was inconsistency in evacuation preparedness across communities affected by the 2022 flood event, which compromised response effectiveness. It is crucial to ensure individuals and businesses are being encouraged to develop robust evacuation plans, and that the Victoria State Emergency Service issues timely, accurate and informative evacuation warnings.
Recommendation 52: That the Victorian Government, in collaboration with the Victoria State Emergency Service, review its approach to evacuation warnings to identify opportunities for improvement and increased community responsiveness.
Finding 71: Shepparton Search and Rescue demonstrated significant operational effectiveness during the 2022 floods, despite operating under resource constraints. These challenges underscore the need for enhanced structural and resource-based support for independent emergency services to ensure optimal response capabilities in future emergencies.
Recommendation 57: That the Victorian Government increase funding to Shepparton and Echuca and Moama Search and Rescue squads to ensure optimal response capabilities in future emergencies.
Recommendation 61: That the Victorian Government simplify the application process for disaster recovery funding. This could include reducing paperwork, providing hands-on assistance and investigating technology to streamline processes.
Finding 87: The 2022 flood event caused significant and enduring trauma to many of those affected, manifesting in mental health challenges that require comprehensive support and intervention.
Recommendation 71: That the Victorian Government provide long-term funding contracts for mental health services in flood-affected regions, with a focus to securing dedicated mental health professionals and effective service delivery in communities impacted by natural disasters.
To read the final report, visit https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/get-involved/inquiries/floodinquiry/reports
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