Government responds to flood inquiry

The Victorian Government has responded to each of the 73 recommendations contained in the final report on the state-wide floods in October 2022, which was handed down by a Parliamentary Inquiry.

Following heavy rainfall in October 2022, major floods affected 63 of Victoria’s 79 municipalities, including local communities living along the Maribyrnong River. 

Among those were residents living in Kensington Banks, where the extent of damage was widely considered to have been exacerbated by Flemington Racecourse’s controversial 1.6-kilometre flood wall built in 2007.

An Independent Panel’s final assessment of the flood wall found it contributed to an increase in flood extent across the catchment of one per cent and that the mitigation works put in place to offset its impact didn’t perform as well as expected.

The government has supported 16 of the report’s recommendations in full, 43 in principle and six in part. It hasn’t supported a further two of the recommendations and the remaining six are under review.

The inquiry investigated and made findings and recommendations relating to flood governance arrangements, planning and flood risk, mitigation infrastructure, emergency warnings, resourcing and response of the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), as well as flood relief and recovery. 

The government also supported, “in full”, recommendation 32: “That the efficacy and impact of the Flemington Racecourse flood wall be considered as part of Melbourne Water’s review of mitigation in the Maribyrnong River catchment announced following the updated flood modelling.”

It said that Melbourne Water was now incorporating an examination of the flood wall mitigation into its broader investigation of potential mitigation options across the catchment. 

“The mitigation study has progressed through a comprehensive procurement process which is now complete, and a consultant has been appointed,” the government said.

“The study will identify the most feasible solutions for riverine flood hazards,” adding that community and stakeholders would be invited to participate in the “development and assessment of options.” •