Writing’s on the wall: Parliamentary Inquiry’s final flood report released

Flemington Racecourse’s controversial floodwall is in jeopardy after the parliamentary inquiry into the October 2022 flood event in Victoria tabled its final report in July.

The report found the wall prolonged the peak of the 2022 flood by up to four-and-a-half hours and would fail to stop the racetrack being inundated if those water levels were repeated now.

It recommended the “efficacy and impact” of the wall, which saw the racecourse protected in 2022 as nearby homes were inundated, be reviewed after new analysis of the Maribyrnong River floodplain by Melbourne Water is released in 2026.

The Victoria Racing Club's only response was that it remained “committed to working with Melbourne Water and other relevant authorities on the matter”.

The Legislative Council’s Environment and Planning Committee’s final report into the 2022 floods made 90 findings and 73 recommendations, pulling no punches in its assessment of emergency management at the time.

The report found that locals were insufficiently warned and prepared, while emergency services lacked resources and coordination.

It recommends sweeping reforms for state and local governments across planning, preparedness, and floodplain infrastructure and management.

At-risk households could even be subject to government buybacks, retrofitting or raising.

Melbourne’s river catchments are the only ones in Australia where forecast and warning services are not managed by the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM).

A BoM spokesperson said a transfer of those services from Melbourne Water to the Bureau was under way but wouldn’t be completed until July 2026.

A Melbourne Water spokesperson said, "Melbourne Water, the Bureau of Meteorology, and Victoria State Emergency Service are working together to enhance flood forecast and warning services for the Greater Melbourne community." 

Together, we will deliver accurate and timely flood warning services to support community safety.

"Work under way involves transitioning the responsibility for riverine flood forecasting and warning services for Greater Melbourne catchments from Melbourne Water to the Bureau of Meteorology and strengthening flash flood community warnings across Greater Melbourne."

Analysis by Melbourne Water released in April found a one-in-100-year flood would impact an extra 850 homes across Kensington Banks in 2024, with water levels already forecast up by 0.84 metres.

The chances of such a flood are projected to triple by 2100 due to the impact of climate change, with floodwaters peaking more than 1.5 metres higher than in 2022.

The Greens spokesperson for planning Samantha Ratnam said the report was an important first step for the community but warned it “barely scratched the surface”.

“There are many unanswered questions, especially for hundreds of residents of Kensington Banks who have been left devastated after learning about the risk of flooding in their neighbourhood with no warning,” Ms Ratnam said.

“They need action from this government to support them.”

Residents were caught off guard on October 14, 2022, when the Maribyrnong River breached its banks, peaking at 4.216 metres just eight hours after the first major flood alerts were issued.

Kensington Banks locals received no formal flood warning from emergency contact systems.

State Emergency Services and Police focused preparation efforts on Maribyrnong township upstream, where a lack of volunteers meant only 60 households were doorknocked.

The report praised the “resilience” and willingness of locals to assist neighbours, with many using personal resources to assist with rescues and help clean up efforts.

Kensington resident Brandon, who asked that his surname not be disclosed, said he believed there would be a significant local interest in the findings of the report.

“Hopefully it’s a sign of bigger things to come from the government,” he said.

The state government has until January to respond to the report. 

Kensington local, City of Melbourne Councillor Rohan Leppert, on Tuesday will move a motion the City adopt the position the state government should manage planning issues arising from the flood report.

The amendment also calls for the City to provide residents more information about infrastructure renewal, maintenance and open space flood resilience planning online by September 16.