General News
9 March, 2023
Local submissions wanted for October flood inquiry
Communities significantly impacted by last October’s floods like Carisbrook, Avoca and Lexton are being encouraged to participate in a parliamentary inquiry. The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee will investigate the state’s...
Communities significantly impacted by last October’s floods like Carisbrook, Avoca and Lexton are being encouraged to participate in a parliamentary inquiry.
The Legislative Council Environment and Planning Committee will investigate the state’s preparedness for and response to the disaster.
“This inquiry will look into the flood event as a whole and the areas affected,” committee chair Sonja Terpstra said.
“It will consider what caused or contributed to the flooding and the adequacy and effectiveness of early warning systems.”
Emergency services, government policy, flood mitigation strategies, and the Victorian Planning Framework will be key to the inquiry.
The committee stated it intends to hold public hearings in flood-affected regions and is encouraging residents to make submissions.
“Communities like Newbridge, Bridgewater, Avoca, Lexton, Skipton, Carisbrook and Creswick were hit hard by our recent floods, and it is important that the causes are investigated,” Member for Ripon Martha Haylett said.
“I have met with many of the communities affected by last year’s floods and their feedback is that we need better flood mitigation strategies going forward.
“Rural and regional communities have been strong and resilient in the face of another devastating flood and I am proud to be by their side on the road to recovery.”
The entire region felt the impacts of the deluge over October 12 to 14, with many local roads inundated and at one point, Maryborough was unaccessible from any direction.
The township of Carisbrook received an evacuation order on the night of October 13, bringing back memories of the 2010/2011 floods which swept through the town.
Thankfully, this time around residents were able to return the next day as the river receded.
The Avoca Public Park was washed over with fencing torn down, while some homes in Lexton were flooded and countless damage was done to farmland.
Written submissions from the public can be submitted from now until May 8.
For more information and to make a submission visit https://new.parliament.vic.gov.au/floodinquiry